Page:Idalia, by 'Ouida' volume 2.djvu/49

38 intense from its force of contrast with the restrained serenity of her past self-control.

"One other word like that and you never enter my presence again, if to be free from you I close the gates of a convent on my own life. What! are yon so vile as that? Is all shame lost in you?" If it were not, there were moments when he was as bad a man as the world held, when the devil in him was alone victorious, and all conscience that had ever lingered was crushed out and forgotten. Her words, and yet far more, her look, lashed all that was evil in his nature to its height. He laughed aloud.

"'A world of scorn looks beautiful' in you, that I grant, Eccellenza! At the same time your title to it is not quite clear. It is for the women who go to Courts to smile with that superb disdain, to answer with that proud defiance—not for the Countess Vassalis!"

There was not much in the words themselves, but in their tones there was an intolerable insolence, an intolerable insult. The fire in her eyes burned deeper still, her breath came rapidly, her whole form was instinct with a passion held in rein, rather for sake of her own dignity than for any more timorous thing. Standing in