The Bars of Iron

out?" said Piers. "I was j

him with brows raised i

e gate with his cap. "Even so, madam! On you! But as I perceive you are

, it seemed superfluous to grant the

wn to the post," she said, with a

t such a course did not apparently occur to hi

ng, conscious of a gay gla

y," said Piers. "Well, I can do that t

nk you," said Avery. "An

from Piers. "I'd sooner shoot

" said Avery

them. It was a subject upon which she foun

hrust out a boyish hand. "Shake!

dea of the utter cruelty of it," she said. "They think that if a dog has never known liberty, he is

this valley of dry bones. It isn't the thing nowadays. Let a dog whine his heart out on a chain! Who cares? There's no room for sentimental scruples of that sort. Can't you see the

t his dark, handsome face

ough to remind me that but for your timely interference I should have beaten my own

es, of course I might remind you of that if I

tubbornly. "You were pe

sponsible, appeared suddenly near her mouth. "I

said Piers. "I hope

nd Ste

dn't confess to anyone. But I think it's a pity ever

t?" sai

need all the strength we can muster for

estion. "What other

hesi

aid Piers

can't afford to weaken ourselves by any loss of self-control. The man w

nys, I have a strong suspicion that your temper is a sweet one. If so, you're no judge of th

and she could not avoid it. "Well, frankly, Mr. Evesham,"

? You weren't afraid to s

said. "I wa

ed Piers. "You're afraid to sp

o, I'm not. I really can

that we are pract

d been guilty of fam

y, and the soft glow made her wonderfully fair to se

nubbing. I'm not a bit. I'm so accustomed to it that I don't care a-" he paused with a glance of quizzical daring, and, as she man

?" said

f forgiving you. It's a pleasure I don't often get.

ld not help it. But the dark eyes triumphed over he

enys, may I ask a dire

why you should

the Vicarage lane, and she was firmly determi

you so. But I'm not. I've been brought up badly, that's all. I think you might bear w

"Please don't take my opinion for granted in that wa

sk my questio

grey eyes upon h

ly serious. "Are you re

e. "I have been a widow for six

in surprise unfei

iet voice. "I lost my husb

"But you're not-not-I say, forgive me, I

ne," said Avery

tter-box. She dropped i

confounded

e been doing this mothers'-he

!" she

. The red winter sunset glowed softly upon

the first six months. You see, she was born blind, soon after he

a gesture that was almost pa

work to find something to occupy me. I went into a children's hospital for training, and spent some years there. Then when that came to an end, I took a holiday; but I

ers. "What a perfectly h

to say you're

I've promised to take charge of the babies this afternoon. Good-bye!" She held out he

cent as to tell me!" he said, looking back at her with eyes as f

Avery found she liked him better than she had liked him throughout the int

r her taste, but then his boyishness counteracted it to a very great degree. There was a hint of sweetness running through his arrogance against which she was not proof. Audacious he might be, but it was a winning species of audacity that probably no woman could condemn.

wonder