She made a brave effort to hide the alarm she felt; and with a sudden snatch she freed her wrist and darted across the room.
The flight of the hunted always gives courage to the hunter, and in this case he sprang after her, and the next minute had clasped her round the waist.
“Got you!” he said, laughingly; “no use to struggle; I’m twice as strong as you.”
“Claud! How dare you?” she cried, with her eyes flashing.
“’Cause I love you, darling.”
“Let go. It is an insult. It is a shame to me. Do you know what you are doing?”
“Yes; getting tighter hold of you, so as to kiss those pretty lips and cheeks and eyes—There, and there, and there!”
“If my uncle knew that you insulted me like this—”
“Call him; he isn’t above two miles off.”
“Aunt—aunt!” cried the girl, excitedly, and with the hot, indignant tears rising to her eyes.