asure deepened
on his face. "People will talk. You know what country folks are like."

Nan's eyes flashed.

"Let them talk! I'm not going to regulate my conduct according to the
villagers' standard of propriety," she replied indignantly.

"It isn't merely the villagers," pursued Roger. "Isobel said, only
yesterday, she thought it was rather indiscreet."

"Isobel!" interrupted Nan scornfully. "It would be better if she kept
her thoughts for home consumption. The neighbourhood might conceivably
comment on the number of times you and she go 'farming' together."

Roger looked quickly at her, a half-smile on his lips.

"Why, Nan!" he said, a note of surprise, almost of satisfaction, in his
voice. "I believe you're growing jealous?"

She laughed contemptuously. She was intensely angry that he should
have quoted Isobel's opinion to her, and she struck back as hard as she
could.

"My dear Roger, surely by this time it must be clear to you that I'm
not very likely to be afflicted by--jealousy!"

The shaft went home, and in an instant the dawning smile on his face
was replaced by an expression of bitter resentment.

"No, I suppose not," he returned sullenly.

He stared down at her, and something in the indifferent pose of her
slim figure made him realise afresh for how little--how pitifully
little--he counted in this woman's life.

He gripped her shoulder in sudden anger.

"But _I_ am jealous!"--vehemently. "Do you hear, Nan? Jealous of your
reputation and your time--the time you give to Rooke."

She shrank away from him, and the movement seemed to rouse him to a
white heat of fury. Instead of releasing her, he pulled her closer to
him.

"Don't shrink like that!" he exclaimed savagely. "By God! Do you
think I'll stand being treated as though I were a leper? You avoid me
all you can--detest the sight of me, I suppose! But remember one
thing--you're going to be my wife. Nothing can alter that, and you
belong--to--me"--emphasising each word separately. "You mayn't give me
your smiles--but I'm damned if you shall give them to any other man."

He thrust his face, distorted with anger, close to hers.

"_Now_ do you understand?"

She struggled in his grasp like a frightened bird, her eyes dilating
with terror. She knew, only too well, what this big primitive-souled
man could be like when the devil in him was roused, and his white,
furious face and blazing eyes filled her with panic.

"Roger! Le