I refuse to remain in a position where you can
humiliate me as you have done. What must I think of myself if I do? I
ask you, Robert, what must I think of myself?" He said nothing and
after a short pause she went on: "A good woman must retain her respect
for herself--she must know in her heart that she is sweet and fine; if
she doesn't what is there left for her? There are just two ways in
which I can keep my self respect--and I'm going to keep it--two and
only two. One is this--you must promise me now that you will never
touch drink again."

He was silent for a moment as if weighing the exact meaning of her
words and their significance; then gravely he replied:

"I'm not sure that I could keep such a promise. I'll agree though to
try--"

She shook her head.

"No, dear--that won't do. How many times already have you agreed to
try and how many times have you failed? You can stop if you wish. You
are not a weakling. You're a big man, a strong man. You can stop if
you wish and you must promise me that you will or--I--"

"Or what?" he demanded.

"Or I shall take the only other course open to me and--leave you."

"Leave me!"

"Yes."

He looked at her curiously as if trying to see if she really meant
what she said. He could hardly believe that she was serious. Rising,
he went towards her, and bending over her said gravely:

"Let me get this straight. You say I must promise that I will never
take another drink or you'll leave me. Is that it?"

"Yes."

"Your mind is made up?"

"Yes."

"Then it's an ultimatum?"

"Yes."

"And you want an answer here and now?"

"Yes."

"Very well, then, you shall have it. I won't promise."

His answer came upon her like a shock. She had expected that he would
agree to anything, but he actually defied her.

"Robert!" she cried despairingly.

"I can't be driven and I won't be bullied," he said doggedly. "No man,
by holding a revolver to my head, can force me to do anything I don't
want to do, nor can any woman either--not even you."

As he spoke, her face grew a little paler, the lines about her mouth
deepened. If that was the way he chose to look upon their relations,
the sooner the end came the better.

"Very well," she said coldly.

She had turned as if to go to her room when he again spoke:

"Besides, there has to be a head of every family Just as there had to
be a head of every business, and so long as I have any family I am
going to be the head of it! If I h