"Oh, damn such promises! That's all nonsense! You're a woman and I'm a man! Have all the little brothers you want, but count me out. I will be your lover or nothing!"
"How dare you!" she gasped. "You brute!"
"Yes, I'm a brute!" he said. "I'm glad of it! Brutal things need to be said to clear the air. There's been too much sickly nonsense. You despise men, don't you? You like to see them crawling? You need a lesson! You shall be mine, and mine only and you shall respect me!"
Corinna was well-nigh speechless now. "I hate you! I hate you!" she gasped. "Leave my room!"
"Not till we come to an understanding."
She darted for the door. It was a mistake in tactics. A joyous flame leaped up in his eyes and he seized her. She fought him like a little tigress, but he only laughed deep inside of him, and drawing her close kissed her pulsing throat.
She ceased to struggle. The hands that had been beating his face stole around his neck. Her lips sought his of their own accord.
"I love you!" she murmured. "I can't help myself! I love you! What will happen to me now!"
At breakfast next morning Evan was in the highest spirits. His piercing inaccurate whistling of "Mighty Lak' a Rose" got Charley out of bed a good half hour before his time. Charley looked at him rather sourly, not too well pleased to have his role of little sunshine usurped by another. A scratch decorated one of Evan's cheeks which Charley did not overlook.
"What have you been in?" he asked sarcastically.