Rosa Mundi and Other Stories

than in the morning-- more insistent, less mirthful. She shivered a little as she stood there. She felt lonely; her uncle was away for a couple of days, and Ronnie was in his room

"I've come on purpose to see

ht. Yet she summoned all her resolution and stood still, while Hyde calmly mounted the veranda steps and approach

to you," he said. "I can come in,

in silence. She could not pretend to this man that his presence was a pleasure to her. S

. She felt that there was something worse than insolence about him that night-s

oesn't it occur to you that I have been a

s man, but she knew that to-night evasion was out of the

me what you mean," she

ferently, and then laughed at h

tention by asking unnecessary questions. It's a harmless little stratagem that may serve her turn. But in this case, le

s eyes still closely watched her face. And Hope felt again that wild

e the utter futility of prevarication. Instead, she forced herself to m

onour," she said; "and it has be

ugh his cynicism. This was better than meek sur

then," he said, "that you-you perso

she was trembling, he would scarcely have detected her fear. "You ha

softly. "So that is ho

she did not shrink. She was fighting

ith all her strength, "in one sense that is true. I did serve my own p

e end of her strength. Hyde did not offer to touch her. He

a guest night-and they will drink my health as the winner of the Ghantala

y, as the victim must shrink, despite all his

atching her. Then he turned. Ther

bye!"

, as one who suppresses a cry of pain. And t

ase

antly, and cam

u are going to be re

eal. Her defiance was all gone. The smile went out of Hyde's face, and suddenly she saw the primitive sav

you. You are going to give him up. Do you hear? Or else-if you prefer it-he will give you up.

speechless, horror

him fiercely, but she was mute. Even the power to flee was taken from her. She could only stand as if chained to the ground, st

ame nearer still with a sort of exultant delib

with a laugh that seemed to turn her to ice.

ous-vividly horribly conscious-of the trap that had so suddenly closed upon her. Through it she saw his face close to her own, with that

t she felt almost suffocated. It was the most hideous moment of her life. And still sh

d, feeling vaguely for support. She saw his face change as he turned sharply away. And instinctively, notwithstand