that I
was yours, and you mine.

"To-night when I came I found another man here--another man you were
accustomed to sing to--how many of them are there?--the same songs, Oh
God! Another man who looked at you with sick eyes of longing! And you
denied me when I came! You looked at me with the eyes of a stranger
because he was here! And now you ask me what is the matter with me.
Am I a toy spaniel to be petted and turned out of the room by turn?"

She found her voice at last. "You have no right to speak to me like
that! You promised me----"

"Oh, damn such promises! That's all nonsense! You're a woman and I'm
a man! Have all the little brothers you want, but count me out. I
will be your lover or nothing!"

"How dare you!" she gasped. "You brute!"

"Yes, I'm a brute!" he said. "I'm glad of it! Brutal things need to
be said to clear the air. There's been too much sickly nonsense. You
despise men, don't you? You like to see them crawling? You need a
lesson! You shall be mine, and mine only and you shall respect me!"

Corinna was well-nigh speechless now. "I hate you! I hate you!" she
gasped. "Leave my room!"

"Not till we come to an understanding."

She darted for the door. It was a mistake in tactics. A joyous flame
leaped up in his eyes and he seized her. She fought him like a little
tigress, but he only laughed deep inside of him, and drawing her close
kissed her pulsing throat.

She ceased to struggle. The hands that had been beating his face stole
around his neck. Her lips sought his of their own accord.

"I love you!" she murmured. "I can't help myself! I love you! What
will happen to me now!"

At breakfast next morning Evan was in the highest spirits. His
piercing inaccurate whistling of "Mighty Lak' a Rose" got Charley out
of bed a good half hour before his time. Charley looked at him rather
sourly, not too well pleased to have his role of little sunshine
usurped by another. A scratch decorated one of Evan's cheeks which
Charley did not overlook.

"What have you been in?" he asked sarcastically.

"Cut myself shaving," replied Evan with a casual air.

"You must have shaved early. It's dry."

Evan's only reply was another cadenza.

"Here's a change of tune!" commented Charley. "Last night it was the
Dead March from Saul."

"Come on, slug! Breakfast's on the table."

It was impossible for Charley to be ill-tempered for long. Presently
he began to grin. "Plea