“I mean,” I answered, in a low, even voice, like one in a trance, “that you are a Messalina, a Julia, a Joan of Naples, beautiful as they—­and as wanton.”

Now at the word she cried out, and struck me twice across the face, blows that burnt and stung.

“Beast!” she cried.  “Liar!  Oh, that I had the strength to grind you into the earth beneath my foot.  Oh! you poor, blind, self-deluding fool!” and she laughed, and her laughter stung me most of all.  “As I look at you,” she went on, the laugh still curling her lip, “you stand there—­what you are—­a beaten hound.  This is my last look, and I shall always remember you as I see you now—­scarlet-cheeked, shamefaced—­a beaten hound!” And, speaking, she shook her hand at me, and turned upon her heel; but with that word, and in that instant, the old, old demon leapt up within me, and, as he leapt, I clasped my arms about her, and caught her up, and crushed her close and high against my breast.

“Go?” said I.  “Go—­no—­no, not yet!”

And now, as her eyes met mine, I felt her tremble, yet she strove to hide her fear, and heaped me with bitter scorn; but I only shook my head and smiled.  And now she struggled to break my clasp, fiercely, desperately; her long hair burst its fastenings, and enveloped us both in its rippling splendor; she beat my face, she wound her fingers in my hair, but my lips smiled on, for the hammer in my brain had deadened all else.

And presently she lay still.  I felt her body relax and grow suddenly pliable and soft, her head fell back across my arm, and, as she lay, I saw the tears of her helplessness ooze out beneath her drooping lashes; but still I smiled.

So, with her long hair trailing over me, I bore her to the cottage.  Closing the door behind me with my foot, I crossed the room, and set her down upon the bed.

She lay very still, but her bosom heaved tumultuously, and the tears still crept from beneath her lashes; but in a while she opened her eyes and looked at me, and shivered, and crouched farther from me, among the pillows.

“Why did you lie to me, Charmian; why did you lie to me?” She did not answer, only she watched me as one might watch some relentless, oncoming peril.

“I asked you once if you ever saw men hereabouts—­when I was away, do you remember?  You told me, ‘no,’ and, while you spoke, I knew you lied, for I had seen him standing among the leaves, waiting and watching for you.  I once asked you if you were ever lonely when I was away, and you answered ’no’,—­you were too busy—­’seldom went beyond the Hollow’—­do you remember?  And yet —­you had brought him here—­here, into the cottage he had looked at my Virgil—­over your shoulder—­do you remember?”

“You played the spy!” she whispered with trembling lips, yet with eyes still fierce and scornful.