"No—good God, no."
"I'd love you if I could," she said soothingly, "but the instincts of mating with anything resembling servitude are wanting in me. Besides, two slaves are enough for one family—Silvette and I.... You are not hurt or angry at my very horrid frankness?"
"No.... What you said is all right." He lifted his eyes and looked his punishment squarely in the face; and her heart failed her, so that she turned her head swiftly, the tears stinging her throat.
They walked soberly on through the meadow up to the house. She gave him her hand at parting; then went leisurely to her room to dress for dinner.
And Silvette found her there alone on her knees beside the window, partly undressed, her head buried in her arms, the brown locks clustering against her pale and tear-stained face.
"Diana!" she exclaimed softly. "What is the matter, child?"
"'Diana!' she exclaimed softly."
The girl got up wearily, keeping her face out of the flood of light from the electric brackets.
"Nothing much," she said; "I've only been very horrid to Jim."