"Excuse me," interrupted Banstead, crossing the room. "Does this mean that you chuck me, Miss Hastings?" "You must release me from my promise, Lord Banstead," she said gently. "I scarcely knew what I was doing. I'm very sorry. I've not behaved well to you." "You've treated me damned badly," said Banstead, turning on his heel. "Good-bye, everybody." Austin, moved by compunction, tried to conciliate the angry youth, but he refused comfort. He had been made a fool of, and would stand that from nobody. He would not stay for dinner, and would not put his foot inside the house again. "At any rate," said Austin, bidding him good-bye, "I can rely on you not to breathe a word to anyone of what you've heard this evening?" Banstead fingered his underfed moustache. "I may be pretty rotten, but I'm not that kind of cad," said he. And he went, not without a certain dignity. Dick took Viviette's hand and kissed it tenderly. "God bless you, dear. I'll remember what you've said all my life. I can go away almost happy." "You can go away quite happy, if you like," said Viviette. "Take me with you." "To Vancouver?" Austin joined them. "It is impossible, dear," said he. "I go with him to Vancouver," she said. Dick wrung his hands. "But I daren't marry you, Viviette, I daren't, I daren't." "Don't you see that it's impossible, Viviette?" said Austin. "Why?" "I've explained it to Dick. He has hinted it to you. You're scarcely old enough to understand, my dear. It is the risk you run." "Such men as I can't marry," said Dick loyally. "You don't understand. Austin is right. The risk is too great." She laughed in superb contempt. "The risk? Do you think I'm such a fool as not to understand? Do you think, after what I've said, that I'm a child? Risk? What is life or love worth without risk? When a woman loves a fierce man she takes the risk of his fierceness. It's her joy. I'll take the risk, and it will be a bond between us." Austin implored her to listen to reason. She swept his arguments aside. "God forbid. I'll listen to love," she cried. "And if ever a man wanted love, it's Dick. Reason! Come, Dick, let us leave this god and goddess of reason alone. I've got something to say which only you can hear." She dragged him in a bewildered state of mind to the door, which she held open. She was absolute mistress of the situation. She motioned to Dick to precede her, and he obeyed, like a man in a dream. On the threshold she paused, and flashed defiance at Austin, who appeared to her splendid scorn but a small, narrow-natured man. [Illustration: "I want you to love me forever and ever."] "You can say and think what you like, you two. You are civilised people--and I suppose you love in a civilised way according to reason. I'm a primitive woman, and Dick's a primitive man--and, thank God! we understand each other, and love each other as primitive people do." She slammed the door, and in another moment was caught in Dick's great arms.