, and in a
minute her anger fairly matched his own.

"Ye've insulted me, Danvers," she said, "many times in this talk, both
in word and look; insulted me in my father's house, where you've been
welcome, boy and man, ever since ye were born; insulted me, too, in a
way I'm not like to forget."

She stood very tall and straight, her cheeks aflame, the lace on her
bosom trembling with the quickness of her breathing, and her work
dropped on the table before her as she slipped from her finger the ruby
ring and pushed it toward him.

"Go away or stay at Arran, as you please! Ride or tie as best suits
your mind, for in the way of love everything is gone between us for all
time. And where ye go," she went on, "ye who pride yereself so on your
birth and breeding, just recall the fact that of all the men of gift
whom I have known, and they have been many, not one has ever forgotten
himself before me as you have done to-day, nor insulted the daughter of
a friend in her own house!"

He made no move to take the ring, and it lay twinkling on the table
between them as Nancy turned to leave the room.

"Good-by," he said, turning white, and then (and I thought a heart of
stone might be touched by the compliment under such circumstances)
"Oh," he cried, as though the words were forced from him, "you are so
beautiful!"

"The country's full of pretty women, any one of whom will be likely to
marry you, when you order her to!" Nancy returned with an exasperating
smile.

"I'll try it and see. I think I will not go away from Arran. I may do
something that will surprise you," he added.

"There's nothing ye could do that would surprise me, unless it were
something sensible, and ye're not like to do that," she retorted, and
without another word she left him standing alone, and he flung himself
out of the house, disappearing across the lawn, in the direction of
Arran, with a white face and a brooding devil in his eyes that showed
his mind obstinate and unrelenting, and in a mood to do any foolish
thing that came by.

CHAPTER XX

DANVERS GIVES US A GREAT SURPRISE

A fortnight passed with no news of the Arran folks whatever, when one
morning Sandy appeared at the door of the small dining-room where we
were breakfasting, his sudden appearance recalling that memorable day
when he asked me on the cruise which brought my girl to me. In the
first glance I had of him I saw trouble; twice before he had worn such
a look, once at his m