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he seemed to be awaiting eagerly the beginning of the next round。
〃Time！〃 called Gerald for the third。
Orde immediately sprang at his adversary； repeating the headlong
rush with which the previous round had ended。 Murphy blocked；
ducked； and kept away； occasionally delivering a jolt as opportunity
offered； awaiting the time when Orde's weariness would leave him at
the other's mercy。 That moment did not come。 The young man
hammered away tirelessly； insistently； delivering a hurricane of his
two…handed blows； pressing relentlessly in as Murphy shifted and
gave ground； his head up； his eyes steady； oblivious to the return
hammering the now desperate handler opposed to him。 Two minutes
passed without perceptible slackening in this terrific pace。 The
gallery was in an uproar； and some of the members were piling down
the stairs to the floor。 Perspiration stood out all over Murphy's
body。 His blows failed of their effect； and some of Orde's were
landing。 At length； bewildered more by the continuance than the
violence of the attack； he dropped his ring tactics and closed in to
straight slugging； blow against blow； stand up； give and take。
As he saw his opponent stand； Orde uttered a sound of satisfaction。
He dropped slightly his right shoulder behind his next blow。 The
glove crashed straight as a pile…driver through Murphy's upraised
hands to his face； which it met with a smack。 The trainer； lifted
bodily from the ground； was hurled through the air； to land doubled
up against the supports of a parallel bars。 There he lay quite
still； his palms up； his head sunk forward。
Orde stared at him a moment in astonishment； as though expecting him
to arise。 When； however； he perceived that Murphy was in reality
unconscious； he tore off the gloves and ran forward to kneel by the
professional's side。
〃I didn't suppose one punch like that would hurt him；〃 he muttered
to the men crowding around。 〃Especially with the gloves。 Do you
suppose he's killed？〃
But already Murphy's arms were making aimless motions； and a deep
breath raised his chest。
〃He's just knocked out；〃 reassured one of the men； examining the
prostrate handler with a professional attention。 〃He'll be as good
as ever in five minutes。 Here；〃 he commanded one of the gymnasium
rubbers who had appeared； 〃lend a hand here with some water。〃
The clubmen crowded about； all talking at once。
〃You're a wonder； my friend；〃 said one。
〃By Jove； he's hardly breathing fast after all that rushing；〃 said a
second。
〃So you didn't think one punch like that would hurt him；〃 quoted
another with good…natured sarcasm。
〃No；〃 said Orde； simply。 〃I've hit men that hard before with my
bare fist。〃
〃Did they survive？〃
〃Surely。〃
〃What kind of armour…plates were they； in heaven's name？〃
Orde had recovered his balance and humour。
〃Just plain ordinary rivermen；〃 said he with a laugh。
〃Gentlemen；〃 struck in Gerald； 〃I want to introduce you to my
friend。〃 He performed the introductions。 It was necessary for him
to explain apart that Orde was in reality his friend； an amateur； a
chance visitor in the city。 All in all； the affair made quite a
little stir； and went far to give Orde a standing with these sport…
loving youths。
Finally Gerald and Orde were permitted to finish their gymnasium
practice。 Murphy had recovered； and came forward。
〃You have a strong punch； sir； and you're a born natural fighter；
sir；〃 said he。 〃If you had a few lessons in boxing； sir； I'd put
you against the best。〃
But later； when the young men were resting； each under his sheet
after a rub…down； the true significance of the affair for Orde came
out。 Since the fight； Gerald's customary lassitude of manner seemed
quite to have left him。 His eye was bright； a colour mounted
beneath the pale olive of his skin； the almost effeminate beauty of
his countenance had animated。 He looked across at Orde several
times； hesitated； and at last decided to speak。
〃Look here； Orde；〃 said he； 〃I want to confess something to you。
When you first came here three days ago； I had lots of fun with
myself about you。 You know your clothes aren't quite the thing； and
I thought your manner was queer； and all that。 I was a cad。 I want
to apologise。 You're a man； and I like you better than any fellow
I've met for a long time。 And if there's any troublein the
futurethat isoh； hang it； I'm on your sideyou know what I
mean！〃
Orde smiled slowly。
〃Bishop；〃 was his unexpected reply； 〃you're not near so much of a
dandy as you think you are。〃
XVIII
Affairs went thus for a week。 Orde was much at the Bishop
residence； where he was cordially received by the general； where he
gained an occasional half…hour with Carroll； and where he was almost
ignored by Mrs。 Bishop in her complete self…absorption。 Indeed； it
is to be doubted whether he attained any real individuality to that
lady； who looked on all the world outside her family as useful or
useless to the church。
In the course of the happy moments he had alone with Carroll； he
arrived at a more intimate plane of conversation with her。 He came
to an understanding of her unquestioning acceptance of Mrs。 Bishop's
attitude。 Carroll truly believed that none but herself could
perform for her mother the various petty offices that lady demanded
from her next of kin； and that her practical slavery was due by
every consideration of filial affection。 To Orde's occasional
tentative suggestion that the service was of a sort better suited to
a paid companion or even a housemaid； she answered quite seriously
that it made mother nervous to have others about her； and that it
was better to do these things than to throw her into a 〃spell。〃
Orde chafed at first over seeing his precious opportunities thus
filched from him； later he fretted because he perceived that Carroll
was forced； however willingly； to labours beyond her strength； to
irksome confinement； and to that intimate and wearing close
association with the abnormal which in the long run is bound to
deaden the spirit。 He lost sight of his own grievance in the
matter。 With perhaps somewhat of exaggeration he came mightily to
desire for her more of the open air； both of body and spirit。 Often
when tramping back to his hotel he communed savagely with himself；
turning the problem over and over in his mind until； like a
snowball； it had gathered to itself colossal proportions。
And in his hotel room he brooded over the state of affairs until his
thoughts took a very gloomy tinge indeed。 To begin with； in spite
of his mother's assurance； he had no faith in his own cause。 His
acquaintance with Carroll was but an affair of months； and their
actual meetings comprised incredibly few days。 Orde was naturally
humble…minded。 It did not seem conceivable to him that he could win
her without a long courtship。 And superadded was the almost
intolerable weight of Carroll's ideas as to her domestic duties。
Although Orde held Mrs。 Bishop's exactions in very slight esteem；
and was most sceptical in regard to the disasters that would follow
their thwarting； nevertheless he had to confess to himself that all
Carroll's training； life； the very purity and sweetness of her
disposition lent the situation an iron reality for her。 He became
much discouraged。
Nevertheless； at the very moment when he had made up his mind that
it would be utterly useless even to indulge in hope for some years
to come； he spoke。 It came about suddenly； and entirely without
premeditation。
The two had escaped for a breath of air late in the evening。
Following the conventions； they merely strolled to the end of the
block and back； always within sight of the house。 Fifth Avenue was
gay with illumination and the prancing of horses returning uptown or
down to the Washington Square district。 In contrast the side
street； with its austere rows of brownstone houses； each with its
area and flight of steps； its spaced gas lamps； its deserted
roadway； seemed very still and quiet。 Carroll was in a tired and
pensive mood。 She held her head back； breathing deeply。
It's only a little strip； but it's the stars；〃 said she； looking up
to the sky between the houses。 〃They're so quiet and calm and big。〃
She seemed to Orde for the first time like a little girl。 The
maturer complexities which we put on with years； with experience；
and with the knowledge of life had for the moment fallen from her；
leaving merely the simple soul of childhood gazing in its eternal
wonder at the stars。 A wave of tenderness lifted Orde from his
feet。 He leaned over； his breath coming quickly。
〃Carroll！〃 he said。
She looked up at him； and shrank back。
〃No； no！ Y