Man and Maid

"Thank you," I said, making my voice very calm. "I had grown so to

respect your balance and serenity, I should have been sorry to have to

change my opinion."

I could see that she was palpitating with fury at having been made to

obey. I felt it wise to turn the conversation.

"I suppose lunch will be ready soon."

She went towards the door then, and left me. I wondered what she would

say when she got to her room and found the three sapphire bangles

waiting for her on the dressing table!

I had written on a card inside the lid of the box: "To Alathea with her husband's best wishes."

Burton announced lunch before she returned to the sitting-room. I sent

him to say that it was ready, and a moment after she came in. She had

the case in her hand which she put down on the table, and her cheeks

were very pink, her eyes she kept lowered.

"I wish you would not give me presents," she gasped a little

breathlessly, coming close up to my chair. "I do not care to receive

them, you have loaded me with things--the sables, the diamond ring, the

clothes, everything, and now these."

I took the case and opened it, removing the bangles.

"Give me your wrist," I said sternly.

She looked at me too surprised at my tone to speak.

I put out my hand and took her bare arm, her sleeves were to the elbows,

and I deliberately put the three bracelets on while she stood petrified.

"I have had enough of your disagreeable temper," I said in the same

voice. "You will wear these, and anything else I choose to give you,

though your rudeness will soon remove my desire to give you anything."

She was absolutely flabbergasted, but I had touched her pride.

"I apologize if I have seemed rude," she said at last. "I--suppose you

have the right really--only--" And her whole slender body quivered with

a wave of rebellion.

"Let us say no more about the matter, but go into lunch, only you will

find that I am not such a weakling, as you no doubt supposed you would

have to deal with." I hobbled up from my chair, Burton discreetly not

having entered the room. Alathea gave me my crutch, and we went in to

the dining-room.

While the servants were in there I led the conversation upon the war

news, and ordinary subjects, and she played the game, but when we were

alone with the coffee, I filled her glass with Benedictine, which she

had refused when Burton handed the liqueurs. She had taken no wine at

all.