"One would have thought that my wishes would be paramount in the matter; but you drive me, all of you. Have your way."
"You amaze me—this is childish, unreasonable!"
She stared vacantly before her.
"Kismet!" she said. "It is fate—I will do it."
"I have never heard such nonsense in my life."
"But at least," her eyes shot flame upon him, "let no one talk of laying a hand upon these things. Good God, they, at least, are mine!"
Sir Arthur rose also, too bewildered still to be able to grasp the full measure of the offence.
"You are certainly very strange to-night, Rosamond," he exclaimed with testy anxiousness. "Not yourself at all. I feel convinced you have a touch of fever."
He stretched out his fingers for her pulse. Quickly she evaded his touch.
"Write to that man," she said, enunciating her words with painful distinctness, "tell him that he has gained his point."