Stella’s eyes, with trust and love, were now gazing into his, and he rose abruptly to his feet.

“You may, when you are alone, again think that it is heartless to go quite contrary to your relations like this, because they have brought you up, but remember that marriage is an act which can mean almost life or death to a woman, and that no human beings have any right to coerce you in this matter.  You are of age and so am I, and we are only answerable to God and to the laws of our countries, not to individuals.”

“I will try to think of it like that,” said Stella, greatly moved, and then, with almost childish irrelevance, which touched him deeply, she asked, “What must I call you, please?”

“Oh, you sweetest star!” he exclaimed, “do not tempt me too strongly—­I love you wildly and I want to fold you in my arms—­and explain everything with your little head here on my breast—­but I must not—­must not yet.  Call me Sasha—­say it now that I may hear its sound in your tender voice—­and we must fly, fly back to the lights—­or I cannot answer for myself.”

She whispered it softly, and a shiver ran through all his tall frame—­and he said, with tender masterfulness: 

“Say, ‘Sasha, I love,’” and this she did, also—­and then he almost brusquely placed her hand upon his arm, and led her among the people, and so to her frowning relations, and then he bowed a correct good-night.

CHAPTER V

No one could have been more surprised than the Reverend Eustace Medlicott at the behavior of his betrothed.  Far from showing any contrition for her unseemly absence upon the arm of a perfect stranger, and a foreigner to boot, Stella had returned to the fold of her relations’ group with a demure and radiant face, and when Eustace had ventured some querulous reproaches, she had cut him short by saying she had done as she wished and did not intend to listen to any remarks about it.

“You will have to learn more humbleness of mind, my dear child,” he retorted sternly.  “I cannot allow you to reply to your future husband in this independent tone.”

“I shall just answer as I please,” said Stella, and felt almost inclined to laugh, he looked so cross and amazed.  Then she turned and talked to the cousin, Mr. Deanwood, and took no further notice of him.

Mr. Medlicott burned with annoyance.  Stella would really have to be careful or he would not go on with the match—­he had no intention of taking to wife a woman who would defy him—­there was Nancy Ruggles ready to be his slave—­and others besides her.  And his career could be just as well assisted by the Bishop’s daughter as by Canon Ebley’s niece, even though her uncle was a crotchety and unknown Lord, patron of two fat livings.  But Stella, with a rebellious little curl loosened on her snowy neck and a rebellious pout upon her cherry lips, was so very alluring a creature to call one’s own, the desire of the flesh,