I?"

She hesitated a moment. The passage between the table and the long
chair was narrow. But truly he was not stopping her--so far as one
might judge.

She took her skirts about her with her left hand; stepped forward; was
almost past the chair before he moved.

Then he flung out a hand and caught her wrist, drawing her.

"Now!" he cried, and his voice was thick.

She gave a half-sound of dismay--of fear; tried to twist free. Bob
laughed; pulled sharply on her arm. She was standing sideways to him--
against the sudden strain lost her balance and half toppled across the
chair.

As Bob reflected, when afterwards feeding upon the incident, had he
not been as unprepared as she for her sudden stumble, he would have
made--as he put it--a better thing of it. As it was, her face falling
against his, he was but able to give a half kiss when she had writhed
herself free and made across the room.

But that embrace of her had warmed Bob's passions. Springing up, he
caught her as she fumbled with the latch; twisted her to him.

For a moment they struggled, he grasping her wrists and pressing
towards her.