She met the blazing wrath of his eyes though her heart felt stiff with fear. It had come so suddenly, this ordeal, but she braced herself to meet it. Horrible though it was to withstand him, the thought came to her that if she did not make the effort just once she would never have the strength again. "You think me very impertinent," she said, speaking quickly through quivering lips. "But--but--I have a right to speak. If I am to be--your wife, you must not treat me as--a servant." She saw his look change. The anger went out of it, but something that was more terrible to her took its place, something that she could not meet. She flinched involuntarily, and in the same moment he drew her close to him. "Ah, Daphne, the adorable!" he said. "I've never seen you at bay before! You claim your privileges, do you? You think I can refuse you nothing?" She shrank at his tone--the mastery of it, the confidence, the caress. "You needn't be afraid," he said, and bent his face to hers. "Whatever you wish is law. But don't forget one thing! If I refuse you nothing, I must have everything in exchange. 'Love the gift is Love the debt,' my Daphne. You must give me freely all that you have in return." She trembled in his embrace. Those passionate words of his frightened her anew. Was it possible--would it ever be possible--to give him--freely--all that she had? The doubt shot through her like the stab of a dagger even while she gave him the kiss he demanded for her audacity. Her victory over him amazed her, so appalling had seemed the odds. But in a fashion it dismayed her too. He was too mighty a giant to kneel at her feet for long. He would exact payment in full, she was sure, she was sure, for all that he gave her now. She was thankful when a ceremonious knock at the door compelled him to release her. Biddy presented herself very upright, primly correct. "If ye please, Miss Dinah, Mrs. Everard is awake and will be pleased to see ye whenever it suits ye to go to her at all." "Oh, I'll go now," said Dinah with relief. She glanced at Eustace. "You don't mind? You don't want me?" "No, I have some business to discuss with Stumpy," he said. "Perhaps I will join you presently." He took out a cigarette and lighted it, and Dinah turned; and went away with the old woman. "And it's to be hoped he'll do nothing of the kind," remarked Biddy, as they walked through the long drawing-room. "For the very thought of him is enough to drive poor Miss Isabel scranny, specially in the evening." "Is--is Miss Isabel so afraid of him?" asked Dinah under her breath. Biddy nodded darkly. "She is that, Miss Dinah, and small blame to her." Dinah pressed suddenly close. "Biddy, why?"