He spurned the crouching culprit, and as it slunk away in the direction of the house, Edna found herself alone, face to face with the object of her aversion, and she almost wished that the earth would open and swallow her.  Mr. Murray came close to her, held her hands down with one of his, and placing the other under her chin, forced her to look at him.

“How dare you defy and disobey me?”

“I did not defy you, sir, but I could not help you to do what was wrong and cruel.”

“I am the judge of my actions, and neither ask your help nor intend to permit your interference with what does not concern you.”

“God is the judge of mine, sir, and if I had obeyed you, I should have been guilty of all you wished to do with that stick.  I don’t want to interfere, sir.  I try to keep out of your way, and I am very sorry I happened to come here this evening.  I did not dream of meeting you; I thought you had gone to town.”

He read all her aversion in her eyes, which strove to avoid his, and smiling gently, he continued:  “You evidently think that I am the very devil himself, walking the earth like a roaring lion.  Mind your own affairs hereafter, and when I give you a positive order, obey it, for I am master here, and my word is law.  Meddling or disobedience I neither tolerate nor forgive.  Do you understand me?”

“I shall not meddle, sir.”

“That means that you will not obey me unless you think proper?”

She was silent, and her beautiful soft eyes filled with tears.

“Answer me!”

“I have nothing to say that you would like to hear.”

“What?  Out with it!”

“You would have a right to think me impertinent if I said any more.”

“No, I swear I will not devour you, say what you may.”

She shook her head, and the motion brought two tears down on her cheeks.

“Oh, you are one of the stubborn sweet saints, whose lips even Torquemada’s red-hot steel fingers could not open.  Child, do you hate or dread me most?  Answer that question.”

He took his own handkerchief and wiped away the tears.

“I am sorry for you, sir,” she said in a low voice.

He threw his head back and laughed heartily.

“Sorry for me!  For me!  Me?  The owner of as many thousands as there are hairs on your head!  Keep your pity for your poverty-stricken vagrant self!  Why the deuce are you sorry for me?”

She withdrew her hands, which he seemed to hold unconsciously, and answered: 

“Because, with all your money, you never will be happy.”

“And what the d—­l do I care for happiness?  I am not such a fool as to expect it; and yet after all, ’Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings.’  Pshaw!  I am a fool nevertheless to waste words on you.  Stop!  What do you think of my park, and the animals?  I notice you often come here.”

“The first time I saw it I thought of Noah and the ark, with two of every living thing; but an hour ago it seemed to me more like the garden of Eden, where the animals all lay down together in peace, before sin came into it.”