he retorted shortly; and, stirred by the maddening
proximity, likewise encouraged by a certain insidious yielding of her
form within the enforced embrace, he dropped his lips on hers, and
kissed them full, passionately, again and again.

"There, that will do," she gasped, striving to restrain the thrill that
ran through her frame. "I didn't say you might do that. Really,
Justin, I shall have to forbid you the house. Let me go, do you hear?"

"Hear? Yes, but I don't intend to obey. Oh--damn!"

The last remark was addressed at large as he changed his mind with
marvellous alacrity, and, wheeling round, was endeavouring to hang the
bandolier to the wall upon a pin that would hardly have held a Christmas
card, as though his life depended upon it. For there had suddenly
entered behind them one of the small Mashuna boys who did the house and
other work--had entered silently withal, the sooty little rascal; and
now his goggle eyes were starting from their sockets with curiosity as
he went about doing whatever he had to do, sending furtive and
interested glances at these two, whom he had surprised in such unwonted
proximity.

"See, now, where your impulsiveness comes in," said Hermia, when the
interrupter had gone out.

"Is that the name of that small black nigger?" said Justin Spence,
innocently. "I always thought he was yours."

"Don't be foolish, dear. It's a serious matter."

"Pooh! Only a small black nigger. A thing that isn't more than half
human."

"Even a small black nigger owns a tongue, and is quite human enough to
know how to wag it," she reminded him.

"I'll cut it out for the young dog if he does," was the ferocious
rejoinder.

"Excellent, as a figure of speech, my dear Justin. Only, unfortunately,
in real life, even in Mashunaland, it can't be done."

"Well, shall I give him a scare over it?"

"You can't, Justin. In the first place, you could hardly make him
understand. In the second, even if you could, you would probably make
matters worse. Leave it alone."

"Oh, it was on your account. It was of you I was thinking."

"Then you don't mind on your own?"

"Not a hang."

She glanced at him in silent approval. This straight, erect
fearlessness--this readiness to defy the whole world for her sake
appealed to her. She was of the mind of those women of other times and
peoples--the possession of whom depended on the possessor's ability to
take and keep.

"Well, I must leave you now