It was a fatal mistake, for at the word Lloyd came forward again, bent on making some show of resistance. Jerry turned on him with a snarl, for the fellow had foolishly put up his hands. A few blows passed and then--Jerry told what happened rather apologetically--"It was a pity, Roger. It wasn't altogether his fault, but he _is_ a bounder. My fist struck his face, seemed to smear it, literally, all into a blot of red. It wasn't like hitting a man in the ring, it was like--like poking a bag full of dirty linen. The whole fabric seemed to give way. He toppled back, turned a complete somersault and collapsed." I made no comment. I already knew that Lloyd hadn't been killed. The girl Marcia seemed stricken dumb for a moment and found her voice only when Jerry turned toward her again. "Jerry," she cried. "It is horrible. You're a brute--beast--" Jerry only pointed at the prostrate figure slowly struggling to its knees. "Go and kiss him," he cried. "Go. Kiss him now. He's on his knees to you, waiting for you." While they watched, Lloyd got to his feet, turned one look of terror in Jerry's direction and then fled blindly into the woods, like one possessed of a devil. Jerry laughed. It couldn't have been very pretty laughter, for the girl covered her face with her hands and shrank away from him. "How _could_ you?" she stammered. "How _could_ you?" "You were mine. He wanted you." "Jerry--I--. It's all a mistake. You thought you saw us. I haven't kissed--" "You lie," he came a pace toward her. "I saw you. I'm not a fool--not any longer." Her gaze met his and fell. There was something in his expression, something of the primitive that tore away all subterfuge. But she was not without courage. "And if I did kiss him--what then?" she asked defiantly. "I'll kiss as I please." "_Will_ you?" He caught at her wrist but she eluded him. "Yes, I will. What right have you to tell me what I shall do or not do? I'll choose my friends as I please and kiss them as I please, Chan or anyone!" She had not gauged his temper. Perhaps she hadn't read the meaning in his eyes. Perhaps she thought that she could elude him or that the fact that she was on her own land gave her a fancied sense of security. "You'll not," he cried. "I will. What right have you to question me? You can amuse yourself with Una." "Stop!" he thundered. But she had found her spirit and her confidence in her ability to win him to gentleness by one means or another was returning to her. She was bold now but prepared to melt if the need required it. "I will not stop," she cried. "You and Una. What right have you to criticize me for what you yourself--" She stopped abruptly, for he caught her by the arm and held her. Jerry said that even yet he was timid of her delicacy--fearful of the things he had thought her to be. But he still held her, though she struggled to get away from him. "Let me go, Jerry. You're hurting me. Please let me go."