Whatever the difference between them,
it might be truly said of both that they had lived at first hand
and come in touch closely with all the elemental realities. One
of them was a romantic villain and the other an unromantic hero,
but her pulsing emotions morally condemned one no more than the
other.
This was the sheer delight of her esthetic sense of fitness, that
strong men engaged in a finish fight could rise to so perfect a
courtesy that an outsider could not have guessed the antagonism
that ran between them, enduring as life.
Leroy gave the signal for breaking up by looking at his watch.
"Afraid I must say 'Lights out.' It's past eleven. We'll have to
be up and on our way with the hooters. Sleep well, Miss
Mackenzie. You don't need to worry about waking. I'll have you
called in good time. Buenos noches."
He held the door for her as she passed out; and, in passing, her
eyes rose to meet his.
"--Buenos noches, senor;--I'm sure I shall sleep well to-night,"
she said.
It had been the day of Alice Mackenzie' life. Emotions and
sensations, surging through her, had trodden on each other's
heels.
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