When Frederick Graves closed the door of the Skinner hut, he wheeled furiously upon his young wife.
"Come home," he said gruffly. "You've done enough harm for today."
"If I've done more than you have," retorted Madelene, tartly, "then I'm some little harm maker!" Suffering intensely from jealousy, she whirled about, crying, "That's what's been the matter with you all the time we've been abroad! And I know very well Tessibel Skinner sent for you to come home."
"That's a lie," interrupted Frederick, fiercely.
Madelene paused in her ascent of the hill lane.
"What made you come down here today, then, if you didn't want to see her yourself?"
Frederick was silent. He hated scenes like this. If he spoke his real mind, he'd plunge himself into hot water at once. And he was always careful not to do that. Silence at the present moment was better than speech. Besides, his late contact with Tessibel Skinner had left him aquiver. Oh, how he loved her! Every nerve in his body called out for sight of his beloved. He would have gone back to the shack if he'd dared.
"Where did you leave your horse?" snapped Madelene, when they'd nearly reached her own.
"In the lower stable at my father's old place,--over there."
"I'll help you mount and then get my horse," said he. "Do you wish to ride on without me?"
Mrs. Graves made a dissenting gesture.
"No, of course, I don't. I want you to come with me directly. I won't let you out of my sight so near that girl. I think it's perfectly outrageous! I somehow believe you lied to me about--"
"Keep your opinions to yourself," growled Frederick. "I've no wish to hear them."
Madelene was about to put her foot into the stirrup. Instead, she stood while fresh tears gathered under her lids.
"Frederick, you're cruel and awfully ugly to me," she said plaintively. "How can you do such things after all the money I've given you?"
Frederick expressed his feeling by a cynical little laugh.
"Perhaps if you didn't throw up your confounded benevolence so often, I might show more gratitude," he snapped back.
Then he lifted her to the saddle, gave her the bridle, and walked beside her to the barn.
His thoughts were busy until, when they reached home, the silence between them was appalling. Thankful to be a few minutes by himself, the young man went away to stable the horses and his wife entered the house. Madelene found her brother sitting before the grate fire. Helen looked up and smiled at her sweetly.
"Come and get warm, dear," she said. "You've had a long ride, haven't you?... Why, what's the matter, Madelene?"