does not vex me. It is a bother, that is all."

She was one of those sort of women whom resistance irritates and
impoliteness exasperates, and she said disdainfully and with angry calm:
"I am not accustomed to be spoken to like that. I will go alone, then.
Good-bye."

He understood that it was serious, and darting towards her, seized her
hands and kissed them, saying: "Forgive me, darling, forgive me. I am
very nervous this evening, very irritable. I have had vexations and
annoyances, you know--matters of business."

She replied, somewhat softened, but not calmed down: "That does not
concern me, and I will not bear the consequences of your ill-temper."

He took her in his arms, and drew her towards the couch.

"Listen, darling, I did not want to hurt you; I was not thinking of what
I was saying."

He had forced her to sit down, and, kneeling before her, went on: "Have
you forgiven me? Tell me you have forgiven me?"

She murmured, coldly: "Very well, but do not do so again;" and rising,
she added: "Now let us go for a stroll."

He had remained at her feet, with his arms clasped about her hips, and
stammered: "Stay here, I beg of you. Grant me this much. I should so
like to keep you here this evening all to myself, here by the fire. Say
yes, I beg of you, say yes."

She answered plainly and firmly: "No, I want to go out, and I am not
going to give way to your fancies."

He persisted. "I beg of you, I have a reason, a very serious reason."

She said again: "No; and if you won't go out with me, I shall go.
Good-bye."

She had freed herself with a jerk, and gained the door. He ran towards
her, and clasped her in his arms, crying:

"Listen, Clo, my little Clo; listen, grant me this much."

She shook her head without replying, avoiding his kisses, and striving
to escape from his grasp and go.

He stammered: "Clo, my little Clo, I have a reason."

She stopped, and looking him full in the face, said: "You are lying.
What is it?"

He blushed not knowing what to say, and she went on in an indignant
tone: "You see very well that you are lying, you low brute." And with an
angry gesture and tears in her eyes, she escaped him.

He again caught her by the shoulders, and, in despair, ready to
acknowledge anything in order to avoid a rupture, he said, in a
despairing tone: "I have not a son. That's what it all means." She
stopped short, and looking into his eyes to read the truth in them,
said: "You say?"

He