is. His action was passionate and overwhelming. She would have
withstood him, but she could not; and there was that within her that
rejoiced, that exulted, because she could not. Yet as at last his lips
left hers, she turned her face aside, hiding it from him that he might
not see how completely he had triumphed.

He laughed a little above her bent head; he did not need to see.
"Stella, you and I have got to sink or swim together. If you won't have
success with me, then I will share your failure."

She quivered at his words; she was clinging to him almost without
knowing it. "Oh, no! Oh, no!" she said.

His hand came gently upwards and lay upon her head. "My dear, that rests
with you. I have sworn that marriage to me shall not mean bondage. If
India is any obstacle between us, India will go."

"Oh, no!" she said again. "No, Everard! No!"

He bent his face to hers. His lips were on her hair. "You love me,
Stella," he said.

She was silent, her breathing short, spasmodic, difficult.

His cheek pressed her forehead. "Why not own it?" he said softly. "Is
it--so hard?"

She lifted her face swiftly; her arms clasped his neck. "And if--if I
do,--will you let me go?" she asked him tremulously.

The smile still hovered about his lips. "No," he said.

"It is madness," she pleaded desperately.

"It is--Kismet," he made answer, and took her face between his hands
looking deeply, steadily, into her eyes. "Your life is bound up with
mine. You know it. Stella, you know it."

She uttered a sob that yet was half laughter. "I have done my best," she
said. "Why are you so--so merciless?"

"You surrender?" he said.

She gave herself to the drawing of his hands. "Have I any choice?"

"Not if you are honest," he said.

"Ah!" She coloured rather painfully. "I have at least been honest in
trying to keep you from this--this big mistake. I know you will repent
it. When this--fever is past, you will regret--oh, so bitterly."

He set his jaw and all the grim strength of the man was suddenly
apparent. "Shall I tell you the secret of success?" he said abruptly.
"It is just never to look back. It is the secret of happiness also, if
people only realized it. If you want to make the best of life, you've
got to look ahead. I'm going to make you do that, Stella. You've been
sitting mourning by the wayside long enough."

She smiled almost in spite of herself, for the note of mastery in his
voice was inexplicably sweet. "I've thought t