a that they have the
attributes of the Almighty--even that they themselves are the Almighty.

Mimi had a suspicion--or rather, perhaps, an intuition--of the true state
of things when she heard him speak, and at the same time noticed the
abnormal flush on his face, and his rolling eyes. There was a certain
want of fixedness of purpose which she had certainly not noticed before--a
quick, spasmodic utterance which belongs rather to the insane than to
those of intellectual equilibrium. She was a little frightened, not only
by his thoughts, but by his staccato way of expressing them.

Caswall moved to the door leading to the turret stair by which the roof
was reached, and spoke in a peremptory way, whose tone alone made her
feel defiant.

"Come! I want you."

She instinctively drew back--she was not accustomed to such words, more
especially to such a tone. Her answer was indicative of a new contest.

"Why should I go? What for?"

He did not at once reply--another indication of his overwhelming egotism.
She repeated her questions; habit reasserted itself, and he spoke without
thinking the words which were in his heart.

"I want you, if you will be so good, to come with me to the turret roof.
I am much interested in certain experiments with the kite, which would
be, if not a pleasure, at least a novel experience to you. You would see
something not easily seen otherwise."

"I will come," she answered simply; Edgar moved in the direction of the
stair, she following close behind him.

She did not like to be left alone at such a height, in such a place, in
the darkness, with a storm about to break. Of himself she had no fear;
all that had been seemed to have passed away with her two victories over
him in the struggle of wills. Moreover, the more recent
apprehension--that of his madness--had also ceased. In the conversation
of the last few minutes he seemed so rational, so clear, so unaggressive,
that she no longer saw reason for doubt. So satisfied was she that even
when he put out a hand to guide her to the steep, narrow stairway, she
took it without thought in the most conventional way.

Lady Arabella, crouching in the lobby behind the door, heard every word
that had been said, and formed her own opinion of it. It seemed evident
to her that there had been some rapprochement between the two who had so
lately been hostile to each other, and that made her furiously angry.
Mimi was interfering with her plans!