," she replied with what self-possession she could
command, "and take it in your own room."

He looked at her stupidly.

"Drink alone?" he hiccoughed. "And you right here? Well, I guess
not--"

He was standing at the door and as he spoke his hand happened to touch
the key. Suddenly an idea occurred to him. She might try to get away.
If he had the key, he would command the situation. Unobserved by his
wife, he noiselessly withdrew the key from the lock and slipped it in
his pocket. Carelessly he went on:

"Where'd be the fun of that? No, we'll have it in here and we'll have
a little party--just you and me! A little party! Eh?"

He went towards her, arms outstretched, his eyes ardent. As he
advanced she retreated to the farther side of the room.

"Please don't!" she exclaimed, opening her eyes wide in terror.

He halted.

"Why not?" he demanded.

Hesitatingly and in a low tone she answered:

"I remember--the last time."

"When was that?"

"About a week ago!"

"Well," he demanded in a surly tone, "what about it?"

"Don't you remember?"

"No," he answered sullenly.

She turned away in mute despair. Utterly discouraged, completely in
his power, she was at a loss what to do or say. There was little use
in appealing to the better nature of a man, in his present condition.
She thought of flight, but it was impossible. He barred the way.
Meanwhile he watched her, as a beast of prey watches its hapless
victim. His ardent eyes feasted on her white neck, gloated on the
lines of her body, revealed by the thin gown. He was too intent on his
lustful purpose to be really conscious of the pain he was inflicting.
He mistook her resistance for coquettishness. Approaching her, he bent
over and whispered persuasively in her ear:

"What's the good of thinking about that, anyway? There's no time like
the present, so I'll have Oku bring it in and I'll drink to your
pretty eyes. My, but you look sweet to-night! I'll ring for Oku."

He started towards the door and had almost reached it when he heard a
movement and rustle of skirts behind him. Turning quickly, he saw
Virginia standing at the entrance to her own bedroom, as if hesitating
as to whether to go into it or not. Her first impulse had been to take
refuge in there and bolt herself in. But it seemed so cowardly, so
undignified. So she stopped on the threshold and just looked at him in
silence, and for a few moments neither spoke. At last he said:

"You won't run a