There was a certain constraint at the breakfast table.  Mr. Fox had heard the serenades, although his consort had slept soundly through the turmoil; and, while carefully avoiding any reference to the incidents of the night, he was anxiously hoping that somebody would say something about them.  Mrs. Easterfield saw that Mr. Du Brant was in a bad humor, and she hoped he was angry enough to announce his early departure.  But he contented himself with being angry, and said nothing about going away.

Mr. Hemphill was serious, and looked often in the direction of Olive.  As for Dick Lancaster, Miss Raleigh, whose eye was fixed upon him whenever it could be spared from the exigencies of her meal, decided that if there should be a fight he would be one of the fighters; his brow was dark and his glance was sharp; in fact, she was of the opinion that he glared.  Claude Locker did not come to breakfast until nearly everybody had finished.  His dreams had been so pleasant that he had overslept himself.

In the eyes of Mrs. Easterfield Olive’s conduct was positively charming.  No one could have supposed that during the night she had heard anything louder than the ripple of the river.  She talked more to Mr. Du Brant than to any one else, although she managed to draw most of the others into the conversation; and, with the assistance of the hostess, who gave her most good-humored help, the talk never flagged, although it did not become of the slightest interest to any one who engaged in it.  They were all thinking about the conflict of serenades, and what might happen next.

Shortly after breakfast Miss Raleigh came to Mrs. Easterfield.  “Mr. Du Brant is with her,” she said quickly, “and they are walking away.  Shall I interpolate?”

“No,” said the other with a smile, “you can let them alone.  Nothing will happen this morning, unless, indeed, he should come to ask for a carriage to take him to the station.”

Mrs. Easterfield was busy in her garden when Dick Lancaster came to her.  “What a wonderfully determined expression you have!” said she.  “You look as if you were going to jump on a street-car without stopping it!”

“You are right,” said he, “I am determined, and I came to tell you so.  I can’t stand this sort of thing any longer.  I feel like a child who is told he must eat at the second table, and who can not get his meals until every one else is finished.”

“And I suppose,” she said, “you feel there will be nothing left for you.”

“That is it,” he answered, “and I don’t want to wait.  My soul rebels!  I can’t stand it!”

“Therefore,” she said, “you wish to appear before the meal is ready, and in that case you will get nothing.”  He looked at her inquiringly.  “I mean,” said she, “that if you propose to Miss Asher now you will be before your time, and she will decline your proposition without the slightest hesitation.”

“I do not quite understand that,” said Dick.  “Would she decline all others?”