Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/247

 it's worth, because that means loaves and fishes for him and his."

She countered this speech staunchly; it was not worthy of him. And yet the tone of reproof was so gentle that it gave him new courage. Besides, he was a born fighter and the mere thought of losing such a prize was more than he could bear.

"You can't go back on your word," he burst out with sudden defiance. "You made a promise that you're bound to keep."

The look in her eyes asked for pity. "Oh! I could never go there," she shivered, "among all those hostile women."

"We will keep a thousand miles away from them."

"They have told me I'm not good enough."

"Like their damned impertinence!" He flushed with anger.

"But I promised this morning that I wouldn't."

"You first promised me that you would."

Again he had her cornered. It was almost the act of a cad to drive her so hard, but he was an elemental who had simply to obey the laws of his being. It seemed madness and damnation to let her go. And yet there were tears in her eyes which he dare not look at. If he saw them he was done.

With a kind of savage joy he felt her weaken a little at the impact of his will. It was a piece of cruelty for which there was no help, a form of bullying he could not avoid.

"The best thing we can do," he said suddenly, "is to get married at once and then clear off to Canada. Then we shall be beyond the jurisdiction of Bridport House."