oice,--

'You wish for that old, idle form--?'

'Not the religious form, which has no meaning for either of us, But--'

'You have been living here seven or eight days. Stay till the
fifteenth, then we can get a licence from the registrar of the
district. Does that please you?'

Her eyes made reply.

'Do you love me any the less, Everard?'

'Kiss me.'

She did, and consciousness was lost for them as their mouths clung
together and their hearts throbbed like one.

'Isn't it better?' Rhoda asked, as they walked back in the darkness.
'Won't it make our life so much simpler and happier?'

'Perhaps.'

'You know it will.' She laughed joyously, trying to meet his look.

'Perhaps you are right.'

'I shall let no one hear of it until--. Then let us go abroad.'

'You dare not face Mary?'

'I dare, if you wish it. Of course she will laugh at me. They will all
laugh at me.'

'Why, you may laugh as well.'

'But you have spoilt my life, you know. Such a grand life it might have
been. Why did you come and interfere with me? And you have been so
terribly obstinate.'

'Of course; that's my nature. But after all I have been weak.'

'Yielding in one point that didn't matter to you at all? It was the
only way of making sure that you loved me.'

Barfoot laughed slightingly.

'And what if I needed the other proof that you loved _me_.'

CHAPTER XXVI

THE UNIDEAL TESTED

And neither was content.

Barfoot, over his cigar and glass of whisky at the hotel, fell into a
mood of chagrin. The woman he loved would be his, and there was matter
enough for ardent imagination in the indulgence of that thought; but
his temper disturbed him. After all, he had not triumphed. As usual the
woman had her way. She played upon his senses, and made him her
obedient slave. To prolong the conflict would have availed nothing;
Rhoda, doubtless, was in part actuated by the desire to conquer, and
she knew her power over him. So it was a mere repetition of the old
story--a marriage like any other. And how would it result?

She had great qualities; but was there not much in her that he must
subdue, reform, if they were really to spend their lives together? Her
energy of domination perhaps excelled his. Such a woman might be unable
to concede him the liberty in marriage which theoretically she granted
to be just. Perhaps she would torment him with restless jealousies,
suspecting on every trivial occasion an infringement of her right