anted them couldn't I buy them? Do you
suppose I go round the world stealing chocolate creams?"

At this, poor Julia getting frightened, and considering the case
hopeless, rises from her seat and beats a most undignified retreat. This
leaves the combatants virtually alone.

"There is hardly anything you wouldn't do in my opinion," says Dulce,
scornfully.

A pause. Then:

"What a temper you have!" exclaims Roger, with the most open contempt.

"Not so bad as yours, at all events. Your face is as white as death from
badly suppressed rage."

"It is a pity you can't see your own," says Roger slowly.

"Don't speak to me like that, Roger," says Dulce, quickly, her eyes
flashing; "and--and say at once," imperiously, "that you know perfectly
well I have the temper of an angel, in comparison with yours."

"Would you have me tell a deliberate lie?" says Roger, coldly.

This brings matters to a climax. Silence follows, that lasts for a full
minute (a long time in such a case), and then Dulce speaks again. Her
voice is quite changed; out of it all passion and excitement have been
carefully withdrawn.

"I think it is time this most mistaken engagement of ours should come to
an end," she says, quite quietly.

"That is as you wish, of course," replies he. "But fully understand me;
if you break with me now, it shall be at once and forever."

"Your manner is almost a threat," she says. "It will be difficult to
you, no doubt, but _please_ do try to believe it will be a very great
joy to me to part from you 'at once and forever.'"

"Then nothing more remains to be said; only this: it will be better for
you that Uncle Christopher should be told I was the one to end this
engagement, not--"

"Why?" impatiently.

"On account of the will, of course. If you will say I have refused to
marry you, the property will go to you."

"That you have _refused_ me!" says Miss Blount, with extreme
indignation. "Certainly, I shall never say that--never! You can say with
truth I have refused to marry you, but nothing else."

"It is utter insanity," says Roger, gravely. "For the sake of a
ridiculous whim, you are voluntarily resigning a great deal of money."

"I would resign the mines of Golconda rather than do that. I would far
rather starve than give you the satisfaction of saying you had given me
up!"

As she has a very considerable fortune of her own that nothing can
interfere with, she finds it naturally the very simplest thing in t