d then, at
the very last moment, when his fondling had come near again, his
hot living desire despising her, against his cold sensual
desire, she broke violently away from him.

"Don't," she cried, harsh now with hatred, and she flung her
hand across and hit him violently. "Keep off of me."

His blood stood still for a moment. Then the smile came again
within him, steady, cruel.

"Why, what's the matter?" he said, with suave irony.
"Nobody's going to hurt you."

"I know what you want," she said.

"I know what I want," he said. "What's the odds?"

"Well, you're not going to have it off me."

"Aren't I? Well, then I'm not. It's no use crying about it,
is it?"

"No, it isn't," said the girl, rather disconcerted by his
irony.

"But there's no need to have a row about it. We can kiss good
night just the same, can't we?"

She was silent in the darkness.

"Or do you want your hat and umbrella to go home this
minute?"

Still she was silent. He watched her dark figure as she stood
there on the edge of the faint darkness, and he waited.

"Come and say good night nicely, if we're going to say it,"
he said.

Still she did not stir. He put his hand out and drew her into
the darkness again.

"It's warmer in here," he said; "a lot cosier."

His will had not yet relaxed from her. The moment of hatred
exhilarated him.

"I'm going now," she muttered, as he closed his hand over
her.

"See how well you fit your place," he said, as he drew her to
her previous position, close upon him. "What do you want to
leave it for?"

And gradually the intoxication invaded him again, the zest
came back. After all, why should he not take her?

But she did not yield to him entirely.

"Are you a married man?" she asked at length.

"What if I am?" he said.

She did not answer.

"I don't ask you whether you're married or not," he
said.

"You know jolly well I'm not," she answered hotly. Oh,
if she could only break away from him, if only she need not
yield to him.

At length her will became cold against him. She had escaped.
But she hated him for her escape more than for her danger. Did
he despise her so coldly? And she was in torture of adherence to
him still.

"Shall I see you next week--next Saturday?" he said, as
they returned to the town. She did not answer.

"Come to the Empire with me--you and Gertie," he
said.

"I should look well, going with a married man," she said.

"I'm no less of a man for being mar