. Across the road stretched the great bulk
of a touring-car, its lamps burning dully in the brilliance of the
moon. Around it, for greater warmth, a half-dozen figures stamped upon
the frozen ground, and beat themselves with their arms. Sam and the
chauffeur vaulted into the road, and went toward them.

"It's what you say, and the way you say it," the girl explained. She
seemed to be continuing an argument. "It makes it so very difficult
for us to play together."

The young man clasped the wheel as though the force he were holding in
check were much greater than sixty horse-power.

"You are not married yet, are you?" he demanded.

The girl moved her head.

"And when you are married, there will probably be an altar from which
you will turn to walk back up the aisle?"

"Well?" said the girl.

"Well," he answered explosively, "until you turn away from that altar,
I do not recognize the right of any man to keep me quiet, or your right
either. Why should I be held by your engagement? I was not consulted
about it. I did not give my consent, did I? I tell you, you are the
only woman in the world I will ever marry, and if you think I am going
to keep silent and watch some one else carry you off without making a
fight for you, you don't know me."

"If you go on," said the girl, "it will mean that I shall not see you
again."

"Then I will write letters to you."

"I will not read them," said the girl. The young man laughed defiantly.

"Oh, yes, you will read them!" He pounded his gauntleted fist on the
rim of the wheel. "You mayn't answer them, but if I can write the way
I feel, I will bet you'll read them."

His voice changed suddenly, and he began to plead. It was as though
she were some masculine giant bullying a small boy.

"You are not fair to me," he protested. "I do not ask you to be kind,
I ask you to be fair. I am fighting for what means more to me than
anything in this world, and you won't even listen. Why should I
recognize any other men! All I recognize is that _I_ am the man who
loves you, that 'I am the man at your feet.' That is all I know, that
I love you."

The girl moved as though with the cold, and turned her head from him.

"I love you," repeated the young man.

The girl breathed like one who has been swimming under water, but, when
she spoke, her voice was calm and contained.

"Please!" she begged, "don't you see how unfair it is. I can't go
away; I HAVE to listen."