asm that had ever passed her lips, and as soon as
it was spoken she turned to leave the room, fearful lest she might say
things which would afterwards degrade her in her own eyes. Her body
quivered. As she reached the door Rodman opened it and entered. He bowed
to let her pass, searching her face the while.

When she was gone he approached to Alice, whom he had at once observed:

'What have you been up to?' he asked sternly.

Her head was bent before him, and she gave no answer.

'Can't you speak? What's made her look like that? Have you been
quarrelling with her?'

'Quarrelling?'

'You know what I mean well enough. Just tell me what you said. I thought
I told you to stay upstairs? What's been going on?'

'I told her she ought to have let us know,' replied Alice, timorous, but
affecting the look and voice of a spoilt child.

'Then you've made a fool of yourself!' he exclaimed with subdued
violence. 'You've got to learn that when I tell you to do a thing you do
it--or I'll know the reason why! You'd no business to come out of your
room. Now you'll just find her and apologise. You understand? You'll go
and beg her pardon at once.'

Alice raised her eyes in wretched bewilderment.

'Beg her pardon?' she faltered. 'Oh, how can I? Why, what harm have I
done, Willis? I'm sure I shan't beg her pardon.'

'You won't? If you talk to me in that way you shall go down on your
knees before her. You won't?'

His voice had such concentrated savagery in its suppression that Alice
shrank back in terror.

'Willis! How can you speak so! What have I done?'

'You've made a confounded fool of yourself, and most likely spoilt the
last chance you had, if you want to know. In future, when I say a thing
understand that I mean it; I don't give orders for nothing. Go and find
her and beg her pardon. I'll wait here till you've done it.'

'But I _can't_! Willis, you won't force me to do that? I'd rather die
than humble myself to her.'

'Do you hear me?'

She stood up, almost driven to bay. Her eyes were wet, her poor,
crumpled prettiness made a deplorable spectacle.

'I can't, I can't! Why are you so unkind to me? I have only said what
any one would. I hate her! My lips won't speak the words. You've no
right to ask me to do such a thing.'

Her wrist was caught in a clutch that seemed to crush the muscles, and
she was flung back on to the chair. Terror would not let the scream pass
her lips: she lay with open mouth and staring e