one thing which gave proof of regard for personal appearance. Her
hair was elaborately dressed. Drawn up from the neck, it was
disposed in thick plaits upon the top of her head; in front were a
few rows of crisping. She affected to be quite unaware that words
had been spoken to her, and stood smoothing each side of her
forehead.

John strode forward and laid his hands roughly upon her shoulders.

'Look at me, will you? Speak, will you?'

Clara jerked herself from his grasp and regarded him with insolent
surprise. Of fear there was no trace upon her countenance; she
seemed to experience only astonishment at such unwonted behaviour
from her father, and resentment on her own behalf. Sidney Kirkwood
had risen, and advanced a step or two, as if in apprehension of harm
to the girl, but his interference was unneeded. Hewett recovered his
self-control as soon as Clara repelled him. It was the first time he
had ever laid a hand upon one of his children other than gently; his
exasperation came of over-tried nerves, of the experiences he had
gone through in search of work that day, and the keen suffering
occasioned by his argument with Sidney. The practical confirmation
of Sidney's warning that he must no longer hope to control Clara
like a child stung him too poignantly; he obeyed an unreasoning
impulse to recover his authority by force.

The girl's look entered his heart like a stab; she had never faced
him like this before, saying more plainly than with words that she
defied him to control her. His child's face, the face he loved best
of all! yet at this moment he was searching it vainly for the