"That'll do for a beginning," he replied, laughingly; "but let's get a little farther on now, I say. Kitty, you are beautiful, you know, and whenever I see you my heart goes pumping away tremendously. I can't talk like some fellows do, but I can love a girl with the best of them, and I want you to pitch over all shilly-shally nonsense, and let's go on now like engaged people." "You are talking at random and of what is unnatural and impossible. Please never to speak to me again like this, Claud; and now loose my wrist, and let me go." "Likely, when I've got you alone at last I say, don't hold me off like this; it's so silly." She made a brave effort to hide the alarm she felt; and with a sudden snatch she freed her wrist and darted across the room. The flight of the hunted always gives courage to the hunter, and in this case he sprang after her, and the next minute had clasped her round the waist. "Got you!" he said, laughingly; "no use to struggle; I'm twice as strong as you." "Claud! How dare you?" she cried, with her eyes flashing. "'Cause I love you, darling." "Let go. It is an insult. It is a shame to me. Do you know what you are doing?" "Yes; getting tighter hold of you, so as to kiss those pretty lips and cheeks and eyes--There, and there, and there!" "If my uncle knew that you insulted me like this--" "Call him; he isn't above two miles off." "Aunt--aunt!" cried the girl, excitedly, and with the hot, indignant tears rising to her eyes. "Gone to lie down, while I have a good long loving talk with you, darling. Ah, it's of no use to struggle. Don't be so foolish. There, you've fought long enough. All girls do the same, because it is their nature to fool it. There! now I'm master; give me a nice, pretty, long kiss, little wifie-to-be. I say, Kitty, you are a beauty. Let's be married soon. You don't know how happy I shall make you." Half mad now with indignation and fear, she wrested herself once more free, and, scorning to call for help, she ran toward the fire place. But before she could reach the bell he struck her hand on one side, caught her closely now in his arms, and covered her face once more with kisses. This time a loud cry escaped her as she struggled hard, to be conscious the next moment of some one rushing into the room, feeling herself dragged away, and as the word "Hound!" fell fiercely upon her ear there was the sound of a heavy blow, a scuffling noise, and a loud crash of breaking wood and glass. CHAPTER ELEVEN. "My poor darling child!--Lie still, you miserable hound, or I'll half strangle you." The words--tender and gentle as if it were a woman's voice, fierce and loud as from an enraged man--seemed to come out of a thick mist in which Kate felt as if she were sick unto death. Then by degrees she grew conscious that she was being held tightly to the breast of of some one who was breathing hard from exertion, and tenderly stroking and smoothing her dishevelled hair.