"I think his system of charity is pernicious!" "What's yours? Don't you give jellies to your Mrs. Jims?" "Yes." "It is just the same thing." "We shall never agree on these subjects, Theresa." "No; they will be fruitful in discussion. Don't you want me to talk to you?" "Certainly." "You're angry, aren't you?" "I hope not." "Yes, you are! Look how good-tempered I am." Her eyes were alight with battle, her lips only parted for speech, and her hands were restless. Now she clasped them and swayed back and forward as she spoke. "I should like to have four--no, five--hundred a year, and do good things with the rest of your income. Perhaps to-morrow I would rather have those pearls you want to give me, but I don't think so. Pearls do not become me! And to-day I want to build model cottages. We could let this house----" "Theresa! Let us end this nonsense. We have lived here for generations." She laughed softly. "I know, but somebody has to begin doing something else. And your workmen have lived in pigsties for generations." "My workmen----! You don't know what you are talking about! The women of this house have never interfered in outside matters." She banged her fist on the little tea-table. "Don't talk to me as though I belonged to a harem!" "Don't be absurd, Theresa." He was very handsome when he was angry. "I'm not absurd. If you say I'm not fit to know about your affairs--yes, and to interfere with them--I'm, I'm a chattel." He smiled. "Nothing so peaceful," he assured her. "If you wanted insignificance----" "I didn't. I wanted you." "I don't believe you knew what you were getting," she said, and left him. When she came downstairs for dinner, she found him awaiting her in the hall. "Well?" she said. Her eyes were very bright; she laughed at him. "Have you forgiven me for the harem?" "Oh, hang the harem! Come into the smoking-room." She touched him on the arm. "Basil," she said, "you nearly swore. I wish--I wish you would really do it." "I've no doubt there will be plenty of opportunity." "Oh, I like you!" she cried. "I like you!" He looked down at her. "That's not enough." He saw her eyes darken, her mouth grow tremulous, but she controlled her lips and fortified herself against this new insistence. "Then you must give me everything." "I will. Theresa, forgive me. I've lived too long without you. And if you will come round the estate with me to-morrow, I'll show you where and how my people live." "Bless you! Thank you. I really want to help, and, of course I'll come." She gave him his reward. "Don't let us quarrel, because--I love you." He caught her hands. "Do you? Do you?" "Am I not proving it? I'm thrusting myself into a very uncomfortable place because of you. If you are not very nice I shan't be able to endure it. Mrs. Morton tells me you all dine regularly with each other once a month! This is a dreadful welding of opposites! But love--love is supposed to be a strong cement."