"What's the secret between
you two?" he called out roughly. "What are you whispering about?"
"We wish not to disturb you over your reading, that is all," said Miss
Lavinia, coldly. "Has anything happened to vex you, Richard?"
"What the devil makes you think that?"
The old lady was offended, and showed it by saying nothing more. Natalie
nestled closer to her aunt. One after another the clock ticked off
the minutes with painful distinctness in the stillness of the room.
Turlington suddenly threw aside the newspaper and left his corner.
"Let's be good friends!" he burst out, with a clumsy assumption of
gayety. "This isn't keeping Christmas-eve. Let's talk and be sociable.
Dearest Natalie!" He threw his arm roughly round Natalie, and drew her
by main force away from her aunt. She turned deadly pale, and struggled
to release herself. "I am suffering--I am ill--let me go!" He was deaf
to her entreaties. "What! your husband that is to be, treated in this
way? Mustn't I have a kiss?--I will!" He held her closer with one hand,
and, seizing her head with the other, tried to turn her lips to him.
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