ubtle inconceivable charm in completed womanhood. The reaction from her
terrible fear and depression had come, and her strong brilliant youth was
manifesting itself. Her step was springy and her eyes were bright; and
the glow of fine health, accentuated by the militant humour of the
present moment, seemed to light up her beautiful skin. In herself she
was desirable, very desirable; Leonard felt his pulses quicken and his
blood leap as he looked at her. Even his prejudice against her red hair
had changed to something like hungry admiration. Leonard felt for the
first moment since he had known her that she was a woman; and that, with
relation to her, he was a man.

And at the moment all the man in him asserted itself. It was with half
love, as he saw it, and half self-assertion that he answered her
question:

'The day you asked me to marry you! Oh! what a fool I was not to leap at
such a chance! I should have taken you in my arms then and kissed you
till I showed you how much I loved you. But that will all come yet; the
kissing is still to come! Oh! Stephen, don't you see that I love you?
Won't you tell me that you love me still? Darling!' He almost sprang at
her, his arms extended to clasp her.

'Stop!' Her voice rang like a trumpet. She did not mean to submit to
physical violence, and in the present state of her feeling, an embrace
from him would be a desecration. He was now odious to her; she
positively loathed him.

Before her uplifted hand and those flashing eyes, he stopped as one
stricken into stone. In that instant she knew she was safe; and with a
woman's quickness of apprehension and resolve, made up her mind what
course to pursue. In a calm voice she said quietly:

'Mr. Everard, you have followed me in secret, and without my permission.
I cannot talk here with you, alone. I absolutely refuse to do so; now or
at any other time. If you have anything especial to say to me you will
find me at home at noon to-morrow. Remember, I do not ask you to come. I
simply yield to the pressure of your importunity. And remember also that
I do not authorise you in any way to resume this conversation. In fact,
I forbid it. If you come to my house you must control yourself to my
wish!'

Then with a stately bow, whose imperious distance inflamed him more than
ever, and without once looking back she took her way home, all agitated
inwardly and with fast beating heart.

CHAPTER XXII--FIXING THE