How the issue might have carried itself had Stella proceeded in the same fashion is problematical; but when, amazed at the state of affairs, and with her heart already much shaken, she took in spite of herself a step inimical to progress by surrendering to tears again, King shrugged and left the room, a smile still torturing his lips.
There was a smugness about his victory which made the girl writhe.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE DINNER THAT NEVER WAS EATEN
I
Confusion bore her violently out under the open sky. From her favourite perch in the rocks the sea stretched wide and dreaming, exquisite in the light of late afternoon.
At first Stella carried on the mood of this new rebellion. Did he expect her to settle down on this lonely island like a dull little mouse and meekly take whatever came to her, without comment or protest? Was this the outcome of so many romantic impulses all giving his princely word free rein?
It had seemed right and warmly within the picture that her prince should wave his sceptre over her destiny, just as in some tale of rich enchantment.... However, these were days of pause; and there were points in the process of working out which seemed, despite the office of rosy spectacles, not altogether ideal.
Her mind groped and rambled afield. Jerome’s transgressions, though dire, had been all in the opposite direction. She thought of Elsa—how Elsa had dealt out caution over the teacups. “You seem to be quite hypnotized,” she had said, with drooping, disillusioned eyes. What would Elsa say now? “If she were only here!” Stella longed for some one with whom all these complex issues might be discussed; and again she felt vaguely unequipped.