I expect to be obeyed."

That last word was unfortunate, for Rosamond had a strong will of her
own, and tapping her little foot upon the ground, she said saucily,
"And suppose you are not obeyed?"

He did not tell her she must leave Riverside, but he said, "You must
answer for your disobedience to me, who have certainly some right to
control you;" then, fearing that his own high temper might be tried
more than he chose to have it, he walked away just in time to avoid
hearing her say, "she cared less for him than for his sister!"

Rosamond was too impulsive not to repent bitterly of her conduct; and
though she persisted in leaving Mrs. Van Vechten to herself, and
refused to speak to Ben, whose face, in consequence, wore a most
melancholy expression, she almost cried herself sick, and at last,
startled Mrs. Peters, just as that lady was stepping into bed, by
declaring that she must see Mr. Browning before she slept.

Mr. Browning sat in his library, alone. He did not usually retire
early, but this night he had cause for wakefulness. The burst of
passion he had witnessed in his protegee, had carried him back to a
time when another than little Rosamond Leyton had laughed his wishes
to scorn.

"And is it ever thus with them?" he said. "Are all women furies in
disguise?--and Rosamond seemed so gentle, so good."

He did not hear the low knock on his door, for his thoughts were far
away in the south-land, where he had learned his first lesson of