with outrageous scorn. "Now go!"

He stood studying her from under lowering brows. The sight of her like
that--head thrown back, eyes glittering, cheeks scarlet, and lips
curled--was like a lash upon his manhood. The answer was plain enough,
but an instinct from the great mother herself bade him disregard it.
Suddenly his eyes flamed up.

"You beauty!" he cried.

Before she could move he had seized her in her finery. Colina was no
weakling, but within those steely arms she was helpless. She strained
away her head. He could only reach her neck, under the ear. She
yielded shudderingly.

"I hate you! I hate you!" she murmured.

Their lips met.


Colina swayed ominously on his arm. She sank down on the sofa, still
straining away from him, but weakly. Suddenly she burst into
passionate weeping.

"What have you done to me!" she murmured.

At sight of the tears he collapsed. "Ah, don't!" he whispered
brokenly. "You break my heart! My darling love! What is the matter?"

"I am a fool--a fool!--a fool!" she sobbed tempestuously. "To have