mply remains for you to pass sentence."

She lifted her head for the first time, startled out of all composure.
His cool treatment of the matter was more disconcerting than any
vehement protestations. It was almost as though he acknowledged the
offence and swept it aside with the same breath as of no account. Yet it
was incredible, this view of the case. There must be some explanation.
He would never dare to insult her thus.

Impulsively she rose, inaction becoming unendurable. He stood up
instantly, and they faced one another in the weird blue twilight.

"I think I have misunderstood you!" she said breathlessly, and there
stopped dead, for something--something in his face arrested her.

The words froze upon her lips. She drew back with a swift, instinctive
movement. In one flashing second of revelation unmistakable she knew
that she had done him no injustice. Her eyes had met his, and had sunk
dismayed before the fierce passion that had flamed back at her.

In the pause that followed she heard her own heartbeats, quick and hard,
like the flying feet of a hunted animal. Then--for she was a woman, and
instinct guided her--she covered up her sudden fear, and faced him with
stately courage.

"Let us go back," she said.

"You have nothing to say to me?" he asked.

She shook her head in silence, and made as if to depart.

But he stood before her, hemming her in. He did not appear to notice her
gesture.

"But I have something to say to you!" he said. And in his voice, for all
its quietness, was a note that made her tremble. "Something to which I
claim it as my right that you should listen."

She faced him proudly, though she was white to the lips.

"I thought you had refused to plead your innocence," she said.

"I have," he returned. "I do. But yet----"

"Then I will not hear another word," she broke in. "Let me pass!"

She was splendid as she stood there confronting him, perhaps more
splendid than she had ever been before. She had reached the ripe beauty
of her womanhood. She would never be more magnificent than she was at
that moment. The magic of her went to the man's head like wine. Till
that instant he had to a great extent controlled himself, but that was
the turning-point. She dazzled him, she intoxicated him, she maddened
him.

The savagery in him flared into a red blaze of passion. Without another
word he caught her suddenly to him, and before she could begin to
realise his intention he had kissed