'It's all a very pretty trick of yours, my dear,' he sneered throwing her arm off him none too gently; 'but a man doesn't marry every girl he kisses, especially not when she's so ready to be kissed as some people we know. You can explain it to your father any way you like, but you're not going to bluff me.' 'I see why you came here now,' said Connie coolly. 'You came to make love to Trix Trevalla. Well, you can't, that's all.' 'That's for Mrs. Trevalla to say, not for you.' 'I don't expect Mrs. Trevalla'll show up at all,' remarked Connie, leaning against the table again. 'That's the little plan, is it?' He gave a jerk of his head. 'By Jove, I see! That hussy of a Ryle girl's in it!' 'I don't know who's in it; you seem rather out of it,' smiled Connie. 'I am, am I? We'll see. So Mrs. Trevalla won't show, won't she? That's hardly final, is it? She's on the premises, I rather fancy.' 'Going to force your way into her bedroom? Oh, Beaufort!' 'You'd be mightily shocked, wouldn't you?' He moved towards the door; his purpose was only half-formed, but he wished her to think it was absolute. 'I don't mind; but I'm sure papa and mamma would. I don't think they'd like you for a son-in-law after that.' 'Then we should all be pleased.' 'Or perhaps for a partner either.' He turned round sharply, and came back a step or two towards her. 'What do you mean by that?' he asked slowly. 'I don't suppose papa would care to have anything to do with a man who trifled with his daughter's affections.' Connie stuck loyally to the old phrases. He was full in front of her now and looking hard at her. 'You little devil! I believe you've squared him,' said he. Connie, well on the table again, put her arms akimbo, stuck her legs out in front of her straight from the knee, and laughed in his face. 'If you're going into Mrs. Trevalla's room, you might ask her if, from her experience, she thinks it wise to quarrel with papa.' 'I'm not a woman and a fool.' 'Oh, you know your own business best, Beaufort!' It was sorely against the grain, but he shirked his open war; he tried coaxing. 'Come, be reasonable, Connie. You're a sensible girl. I mean all that's square, but----' 'I mean that if you wait here after I've gone, or go now and see Trix Trevalla, I'll never speak to you again. And papa---- Well, as I say, you know your own business best about that.' Her cool certainty, her concentration on one purpose, gave her all the advantage over him with his divided counsels, his inconsistent desires, his efforts to hedge. Again she pinned him to a choice. 'What do you want?' he asked curtly.