er pretty head.

He gave her a glance of mingled surprise and displeasure. "What has come
over you, Zoe?" he asked. "Can't you give a civil answer to a simple
question?"

"Of course I can, Mr. Travilla, but I think it's a pretty story if I'm to
be called to account as to where I go even about the house."

"Nothing but a guilty conscience could have made you look at my question
in that light," he said, leaning against the mantel and looking down
severely at her as she stood before him, for they were now in her boudoir.
"I presume you have been in Max's room, condoling with and encouraging him
in his defiance of grandpa's authority; and let me tell you, I won't allow
it."

"It makes no difference whether you allow it or not," she said, turning
away with a contemptuous sniff. "I'm my own mistress."

"Do you mean to defy my authority, Zoe?" he asked, with suppressed anger.

"Yes, I do. I'll do anything in the world for love and coaxing, but I
won't be driven. I'm your wife, sir, not your slave."

"I have no desire to enslave you, Zoe," he said, his tone softening, "but
you are so young, so very young for a married woman, that you surely ought
to be willing to submit to a little loving guidance and control."

"I didn't perceive much love in the attempt you made just now," she said,
seating herself and opening a book.

He watched her for a moment. She seemed absorbed in reading, and he could
not see that the downcast eyes were too full of tears to distinguish one
letter from another.

He left the room without another word, and hardly had the door closed on
him when she flung the book from her, ran into the dressing-room, and
throwing herself on a couch, cried as if her heart would break.

"He's all I have, all I have!" she moaned, "and he's beginning to be cruel
to me! Oh, what shall I do! what shall I do! Papa, papa, why did you die
and leave your darling all alone in this cold world?"

She hoped Edward would come back presently, say he was sorry for his
brutal behavior, and try to make his peace with her by coaxing and
petting; but he did not, and after a while she gave up expecting him,
undressed, went to bed and cried herself to sleep, feeling that she was a
sadly ill-used wife.

Meanwhile Edward had returned to the library for a time, then gone into
the family parlor, hoping and half expecting to find Zoe there with the
rest; but the first glance showed him that she was not in the room.

He made no remark