Netta tossed her head. "I'm not a sentimental mother," she observed. "You won't punish me in that way. I object to a commotion, that's all."
He took her by the shoulder. "Do you?" he said. "Then I advise you to be mighty careful, for, I warn you, my blood is up."
She made a face at him, albeit there was a quality of menace in his hold. "Are you going to treat me as you have just treated Tessa?"
His teeth were clenched upon his lower lip. "Don't be a little devil, Netta!" he said.
She snapped her fingers. "Then don't you be a big fool, most noble Richard! It doesn't pay to bully a woman. She can always get her own back one way or another. Remember that!"
He gripped her suddenly by both arms. "By Heaven!" he said passionately. "I'll do worse than beat you if you dare to trifle with me!"
She tried to laugh, but his look frightened her. She turned as white as the muslin wrap she wore. "Richard—Dick—don't," she gasped helplessly.
He held her locked to him. "You've gone too far," he said.
"I haven't, Dick! I haven't!" she protested. "Dick, I swear to you—I have never—I have never—"
He stopped the words upon her lips with his own, but his kiss was terrible. She shrank from it trembling, appalled.