"My dear, you must listen to me now——"
"I won't listen. I'll have my way about my servants. It's none of your business. Look after your politics and let the nursery alone!"
"Please be reasonable, my love. I assure you I'm in dead earnest. The danger is a real one, or I wouldn't ask this of you—please——"
"No—no—no—no!" she fairly shrieked.
His voice was very quiet when he spoke at last:
"I'm sorry to cross you in this, but the girl must leave to-night."
The tones of his voice and the firm snap of his strong jaw left further argument out of the question and the little woman played her trump card.
She sprang to her feet, pale with rage, and gave way to a fit of hysteria. He attempted to soothe her, in grave alarm over the possible effects on her health of such a temper.
With a piercing scream she threw herself across the bed and he bent over her tenderly:
"Please, don't act this way!"