"I offered you your freedom. Am I not worthy an answer?"
Holding his temper sternly in check Lord Chester answered gravely:
"Ethel, do you understand what you are saying? You are dismissing me on such slight cause that when your anger cools you will be surprised at yourself—surprised, and—perhaps a little sorry," and he looked full into her eyes.
"Sorry!" she cried scornfully, and tossed her head.
He answered quietly:
"Yes, sorry; for you love me a little, I think, do you not? Surely it was not all for gold and rank that you accepted me."
She knew that it was not, that she had given him all her fiery heart, but her pride was in arms. That tender appeal to her love sounded like a taunt.
The hot blood rushed to her cheeks, and her great eyes flashed with almost insane anger. She cried contemptuously:
"I fancied I loved you once, but a nature like mine cannot bear neglect and harshness. Your words to me just now were ill-chosen, and I cannot forgive them. From this moment I hate you. Take back your freedom and your ring," and she pressed the costly jewel into his reluctant hand.
"So I am jilted," laughed the young man harshly.