would make if you would only bring your minds to join forces,
instead of always fencing and standing on ceremony like two proud
peacocks."

"My mind requires no making up, colonel," responded Ormsby quickly, with
an appealing, almost humble glance at Dora.

"Father, what nonsense you talk!" cried she, changing color and trembling
so much that the cigarettes spilled upon the floor.

The colonel shut the door without further comment, and left them alone.

"How stupid of me," murmured Dora, seeking to cover her confusion by
picking up the cigarettes.

"I shall not allow you," he murmured, seizing her arm in a strong grip,
gently but firmly, and raising her. "I am ever at your service. You know
that."

"Let go my arm, please."

"May I not take the other one as well, and look into your eyes, and ask
you the question which has been in my mind for days?"

"It is useless, Mr. Ormsby. Let me go."

"No," he cried, coming quite close and surveying her with a glance so
intense that she shrank away frightened. "I will not let you go. You are
mine--mine! I mean to keep you forever. I'll shadow you till you die. You
shall never cast me off. No other man shall ever approach you as near as
I. I will not let him. I would kill him."

"You are talking nonsense, Mr. Ormsby, and you are hurting my arm."

"To prevent your escaping, I shall encircle you with bands of steel," and
he put his arm around her quickly, and held her to him.

"I beg that you will behave decently and sensibly," she cried, with a
sob. "I've given you to understand before that this sort of thing is
repugnant to me. Let me go."

She struck him on the breast with the flat of her hand, and thrust
herself away, compelling him to release her. Her anger spent itself in
tears, and she hurried across to the piano stool, where she dropped down,
feeling more helpless and hopeless than ever in her life before. Her
father had given Ormsby the direct hint; and he had proposed again. She
could not blame him for that. She could not deny that he was masterful,
and handsome, and convincing. There was no escape; and the absurdity of
sweeping out of the room in indignation was obvious. He was their guest,
and would be their guest as long as her father chose.

The ardent lover held himself in check with wonderful self-possession. He
drew forward an armchair, and, dropping into it, picked up the cigarettes
from the floor, lighted one and settled himself callously to smoke,
t