"Like hell," said Van. He rose to go, adding; "You like him about that way yourself—since yesterday."
Her eyes had been sparkling, but now they snapped.
"Why—how can you speak so rudely? You know that isn't true! You know I like—admire Mr. Bost—— You haven't any right to say a thing like that—no matter what you may have done for me!"
She too had risen. She faced him glowingly.
He suddenly took both her hands and held them in a firm, warm clasp from which there could be no escape.
"Beth," he said audaciously, "you are never going to marry that man."
She was struggling vainly to be free. Her face was crimson.
"Let me go!" she demanded. "Mr. Van—you let me go! I don't see how you dare to say a thing like that. I don't know why——"
"You can't marry Searle," he interrupted, "because you are going to marry me."
He raised her hands to his lips and kissed them both.