remained kneeling; for now my face was on a level with the sill;
and when my eyes could see again, there stood my darling before
them in the room.

Like a queen she stood, in the very travelling cloak in which I had
seen her last; it was tattered now, but she held it close about her
as though a shrewd wind bit her to the core. Her sweet face was
all peeked and pale in the candle-light: she who had been a child
was come to womanhood in a few weeks. But a new spirit flashed in
her dear eyes, a new strength hardened her young lips. She stood
as an angel brought to book by devils; and so noble was her calm
defiance, so serene her scorn, that, as I watched and listened; all
present fear for her passed out of my heart.

The first sound was the hasty rising of young Rattray; he was at
Eva's side next instant, essaying to lead her to his chair, with
a flush which deepened as she repulsed him coldly.

"You have sent for me, and I have come," said she. "But I prefer
not to sit down in your presence; and what you have to say, you
will be good enough to say as quickly as possible, that I may
go again before I am - stifled!"

It was her one hot word; aimed at them all, it seemed to me to
fall like a lash on Rattray's cheek, bringing the blood to it like
lightning. But it was Santos who snatched the cigarette from his
mouth, and opened upon the defenceless girl in a torrent of
Portuguese, yellow with rage, and a very windmill of lean arms and
brown hands in the terrifying rapidity of his gesticulations. They
did not terrify Eva Denison. When Rattray took a step towards the