Diana lit a cigarette slowly, and swung round on her chair with a hard

laugh. "If I had not lived with you all my life, Aubrey, I should

really be impressed with your brotherly solicitude; I should think you

really meant it. But knowing you as I do, I know that it is not anxiety

on my behalf that is prompting you, but the disinclination that you

have to travel alone without me. You have come to depend on me to save

you certain annoyances and inconveniences that always occur in

travelling. You were more honest in Biskra when you only objected to my

trip without giving reasons. Why have you waited until to-night to give

me those reasons?"

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"Because I thought that here, at least, you would have sense enough to

see them. In Biskra it was impossible to argue with you. You made your

own arrangements against my wishes. I left it, feeling convinced that

the impossibility of it would be brought home to you here, and that you

would see for yourself that it was out of the question. Diana, give up

this insane trip."

"I will not."

"I've a thundering good mind to make you."

"You can't. I'm my own mistress. You have no right over me at all. You

have no claim on me. You haven't even that of ordinary brotherly

affection, for you have never given me any, so you cannot expect it

from me. We needn't make any pretence about it, I am not going to argue

any more. I will not go back to Biskra."

"If you are afraid of being laughed at----" he sneered; but she took him

up swiftly.

"I am not afraid of being laughed at. Only cowards are afraid of that,

and I am not a coward."

"Diana, listen to reason!"

"Aubrey! I have said my last word. Nothing will alter my determination

to go on this trip. Your arguments do not convince me, who know you. It

is your own considerations and not mine that are at the bottom of your

remonstrances. You do not deny it, because you can't, because it is

true."

They were facing each other across the little table. An angry flush

rose in Sir Aubrey's face, and his eyeglass fell with a little sharp

tinkle against a waistcoat button.

"You're a damned obstinate little devil!" he said furiously.

She looked at him steadily, her scornful mouth firm as his own. "I am

what you have made me," she said slowly. "Why quarrel with the result?

You have brought me up to ignore the restrictions attached to my sex;

you now round on me and throw them in my face. All my life you have set

me an example of selfishness and obstinacy. Can you wonder that I have

profited by it? You have made me as hard as yourself, and you now

profess surprise at the determination your training has forced upon me.

You are illogical. It is your fault, not mine. There was bound to be a

clash some day. It has come sooner than I expected, that's all. Up till

now my inclinations have gone with yours, but this seems to be the

parting of the ways. As I reminded you before, I am my own mistress,

and I will submit to no interference with my actions. Please understand

that clearly, Aubrey. I don't want to wrangle any more. I will join you

in New York as I promised. I am not in the habit of breaking my

promises, but my life is my own to deal with, and I will deal with it

exactly as I wish and not as any one else wishes. I will do what I

choose when and how I choose, and I will never obey any will but

my own."




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