compared to this? The white almond blossoms were falling as she
went down to the lakeside, where her dreams were always fairest.

"I wonder," mused the girl, "why the world of nature is so fair, and the
world of men and women so stupid and so inane."

"Pauline," said a voice near her, "I have followed you; I could not help
doing so."

She turned hastily, and saw Captain Langton, his face flushed, his eyes
flaming with a light that was not pleasant to see.

"How have you dared to do so?" she demanded.

"I dare do anything," he replied, "for you madden me. Do you hear? You
madden me!"

She paid no more heed to his words than she did to the humming of the
insects in the grass.

"You shall hear me!" he cried. "You shall not turn away your haughty
head! Look at me--listen to me, or I will----"

"Or you will murder me," she interrupted. "It will not be the first time
you have used that threat. I shall neither look at you nor listen to
you."

"Pauline, I swear that you are driving me mad. I love you so dearly that
my life is a torment, a torture to me; yet I hate you so that I could
almost trample your life out under my feet. Be merciful to me. I know
that I may woo and win this glittering widow. I know that I may be
master of Darrell Court--she has let me guess that much--but, Pauline, I
would rather marry you and starve than have all the world for my own."

She turned to him, erect and haughty, her proud face flushing, her eyes
so full of scorn that their light seemed to blind him.

"I did not think," she said, "that you would dare to address such words
to me. If I had to choose this instant between death and marrying you,
I would choose death. I know no words in which I can express my scorn,
my contempt, my loathing for you. If you repeat this insult, it will be
at your peril. Be warned."

"You are a beautiful fiend!" he hissed. "You shall suffer for your
pride!"

"Yes," she said, calmly; "go and marry Lady Darrell. I have vowed to be
revenged upon her; sweeter vengeance I could not have than to stand by
quietly while she marries you."

"You are a beautiful fiend!" he hissed again, his face white with rage,
his lips dry and hot.

Pauline turned away, and he stood with deeply muttered imprecations on
his lips.

"I love her and I hate her," he said; "I would take her in my arms and
carry her away where no one in the world could see her beautiful face
but myself. I could spend my whole life in worshiping