He would surely yield to her though he barred
out all beside.
Perhaps he read her thoughts, for the laugh died out of his eyes, melting
into the old tender raillery that she remembered so well.
"Will you drink with me?" he said. "You have actually stooped to enter
my stronghold without your bodyguard. Will you not honour me still
further--partake of my hospitality?"
She smiled at him. "Of course I will have tea with you with pleasure,
Charlie. Didn't you realize I was waiting to be asked?"
"You are very gracious," he said, and crossed the room to ring a bell.
She remained in the western turret, looking out over the beech woods that
blazed golden in the sun to the darker pine-woods beyond.
"What a paradise this is!" she said, when he joined her again.
His restless eyes followed hers without satisfaction. A certain moodiness
had come upon him. He made no answer to her words.
"Why doesn't Bunny come up to see me?" he asked suddenly. "He knows I am
here."
She looked at him in surprise. "Are you expecting him?"
He nodded with a touch of arrogance. "Yes. Tell him to come! I shan't
quarrel with him or he with me. Is he still thirsting for my blood? He's
welcome to it if he wants it.
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