Dora was in a black evening-gown. It heightened the pallor of her skin, and made her look extremely slender and tall. Ormsby, whose clothes always fitted him like a uniform, looked his best in evening dress, with his black hair and dark eyes. His haughty bearing and stern, handsome features went well with the severe lines of his conventional attire. The colonel paused at the door before going out, and looked at the two on whom his hopes were now centred--Ormsby standing on the hearth-rug, straight as a dart, and Dora offering him the cigarette-box with a natural, sweet grace that was instinctive with her. He nodded in approval as he looked. Dora was an unfailing joy to him. She pleased his eye as she might have pleased a lover. He was proud of her, too, of her fearlessness, her tact, her womanliness, and, above all, her air of breeding. She certainly looked charming to-night, a fitting chatelaine for the noblest mansion. As the colonel remained in the doorway, still staring, Dora turned her head with a smile. "What are you looking at, father?" "I was only thinking," said the colonel bluntly, "what a magnificent pair you two would make if you would only bring your minds to join forces, instead of always fencing and standing on ceremony like two proud peacocks." "My mind requires no making up, colonel," responded Ormsby quickly, with an appealing, almost humble glance at Dora. "Father, what nonsense you talk!" cried she, changing color and trembling so much that the cigarettes spilled upon the floor. The colonel shut the door without further comment, and left them alone. "How stupid of me," murmured Dora, seeking to cover her confusion by picking up the cigarettes. "I shall not allow you," he murmured, seizing her arm in a strong grip, gently but firmly, and raising her. "I am ever at your service. You know that." "Let go my arm, please." "May I not take the other one as well, and look into your eyes, and ask you the question which has been in my mind for days?" "It is useless, Mr. Ormsby. Let me go." "No," he cried, coming quite close and surveying her with a glance so intense that she shrank away frightened. "I will not let you go. You are mine--mine! I mean to keep you forever. I'll shadow you till you die. You shall never cast me off. No other man shall ever approach you as near as I. I will not let him. I would kill him." "You are talking nonsense, Mr. Ormsby, and you are hurting my arm." "To prevent your escaping, I shall encircle you with bands of steel," and he put his arm around her quickly, and held her to him. "I beg that you will behave decently and sensibly," she cried, with a sob. "I've given you to understand before that this sort of thing is repugnant to me. Let me go."