And he, seeing and hearing, lost his boasted self- control.
``Go--go,'' he cried harshly. ``If you don't go----'' He came
round the table, seizing her as she rose, kissed her upon the
lips, upon the eyes. ``You are lovely--lovely!'' he murmured.
``And I who can't have flowers on my table or in sight when I've
got anything serious to do--I love your perfume and your color
and the wonderful softness of you----''

He pushed her away. ``Now--will you go?'' he cried.

His eyes were flashing. And she was trembling from head to foot.

She was gazing at him with a fascinated expression. ``I
understand what you meant when you warned me to go,'' she said.
``I didn't believe it, but it was so.''

``Go--I tell you!'' he ordered.

``It's too late,'' said she. ``You can't send me away now--for
you have kissed me. If I'm in your power, you're in my power,
too.''

Moved by the same impulse both looked up the arbor toward the
rear door of the house. There stood Selma Gordon, regarding them
with an expression of anger as wild as the blood of the steppes
that flowed in her veins. Victor, with what composure he could
master, put out his hand in farewell to Jane. He had been too
absorbed in the emotions raging between him and her to note
Selma's expression. But Jane, the woman, had seen. As she shook
hands with Victor, she said neither high nor low: