ed it.
Mrs Fane's character is stronger than mine. I have been content to
abdicate in her favour. If you asked her opinion of me, she would
probably tell you that I was too pliable--too easily influenced."

Silence. The blunt, roughly-hewn profile stared stolidly ahead. A
granite wall would have shown as much expression. I was seized with an
immense, a devastating curiosity to discover what he was thinking. I
fixed my eyes steadily upon him, mentally willing him to turn round.

He knew I was doing it. I could see the red rise above his collar rim,
and mount steadily to his ears.

He was determined that he would not speak. I was equally determined
that he should.

"Mr Maplestone! I am waiting for a remark."

"Miss Wastneys, I--er--I have no remark to make."

"You don't recognise me in the latter _role_?"

"I--er--I can't say that I do! On the few occasions on which we have
met, you have appeared to me to be abundantly--er--to be, in short, the
ruling spirit."

I thought of that first interview in the inn when the brunt of the
bargaining had fallen on me; I thought of the tragic evening at the
"Hall," when I had arranged a hurried departure, without apparently
consulting Charmion's wishes. Appearances were against me, and it was
impossible to explain them away. I said, in a cross, hurt voice:--

"Oh, of course, you think me everything that is disagreeable and
domineering. It is just as I said--men see only one thing, and it
colours their whole view. If I lived a lifetime of meekness and
self-abnegation, you would never forget that affair of the lease. And
it was your own fault, too! You were the unreasonable one, not I; but
all the same, you have never forgiven. Delphine told me how much you
disliked me."

His eyes met mine, frankly, without a flicker of shame.

"Did she? That was wrong of her. She had no business to repeat--"

"You acknowledge it, then! You _did_ say so?"

"I did. Oh, yes. It's quite true."

It was a shock. At that moment I realised that, in my vanity, I had
never really believed Delphine's statement. The Squire had made some
casual remark which she had misunderstood, misquoted--such had been the
subconscious explanation with which I had assuaged my complacency; but
now out of his own lips, openly, unhesitatingly, the verdict was
confirmed! I felt as if a pail of water had been emptied over my head.

"And you--you really meant--"

"If I had not meant it, I sho