complain.'
'I married you in a fit of temper. It was very stupid of me. I'm very sorry that I--that I've been all this trouble to you. Won't you let me go?'
'No, I can't do that.'
'I'm no good to you. You've told me that I'm useless. I can't do any of the things that you want a wife to do. Oh,' she ended passionately, 'you can't be so hard-hearted as to make me pay with all my whole life for one moment's madness!'
'What good will it do you if I let you go? Will you go to Gertie and beg her to take you back again? You've got too much pride for that.'
She made a gesture of abnegation: 'I don't think I've got much pride left.'
'Don't you think you'd better give it a try?'
Once more hope wakened in Nora's heart. His tone was so reasonable. If she kept her self-control, she might yet win. She sat down on one of the stools and spoke in a tone that was almost conversational.
'All this life is so strange to me. Back in England, they think it's so different from what it really is. I thought I should have a horse to ride, that there would be dances and parties. And when I came out, I was so out of it all. I felt in the way. And yesterday Gertie drove me frantic so that I felt I couldn't stay a moment longer in that house. I acted on impulse. I didn't know what I was doing. I made a mistake. You can't have the
'I knew you was making a mistake, but that was your lookout. When I sell a man a horse, he can look it over for himself. I ain't obliged to tell him its faults.'
'Do you mean to say that after I've begged you almost on my knees to let me go, you'll force me to stay?'
[Illustration: FRANK GLIMPSES THE APPROACHING STORM THAT MEANS HIS RUIN.]
'That's what I mean.'
'Oh, why did I ever trap myself so!'
'Come, my girl, let's let bygones be bygones,' he said good-humoredly. 'Come, give me a kiss.'
She tried a new tack.
'I'm not in love with you,' she said in a matter-of-fact voice.
'I guessed that.'
'And you're not in love with me.'
'You're a woman and I'm a man.'
'Do you want me to tell you in so many words that you're physically repellent to me? That the thought of letting you kiss me horrifies and disgusts me?' In spite of her resolution, her voice was rising.
'Thank you.' He was still good-humored.
'Look at your hands; it gives me goose-flesh when you touch me.'
'Cuttin' down trees, diggin', lookin' after horses don't leave them very white and smooth.'
'Let me go! Let me go!'
He took a step away from the door. His whole manner changed.
'See here, my girl. You was educated like a lady and spent your life doin' nothing. Oh, I forgot: you was a lady's companion, wasn't you? And you look on yourself as a darned sight better than me. I never had no schooling. It's a hell of a job for me to write a letter. But since I was so high'--his hand measured a distance of about three feet from the floor--'I've earned my living. I guess I've been all over this country. I've been a trapper, I've worked on the railroad and for two years I've been a freighter. I guess I've done pretty nearly everything but clerk in a store. Now you just get busy and forget all the nonsense you've got in your head. You're nothing but an ignorant woman and I'm your master. I'm goin' to do what I like with you. And if you don't submit willingly, by God I'll take you as the trappers, in the old days, used to take the squaws.'
