It had made her sick with
fear and repulsion. In Stanley Baird it first astounded
her, then filled her with hate.
``Stanley!'' she gasped.
``WHO is it?'' he ground out between his teeth.
And he seized her savagely.
``If you don't release me at once,'' said she calmly,
``I shall call Mrs. Brindley, and have you put out of
the house. No matter if I do owe you all that money.''
``Stop!'' he cried, releasing her. ``You're very clever,
aren't you?--turning that against me and making me powerless.''
``But for that, would you dare presume to touch me,
to question me?'' said she.
He lowered his gaze, stood panting with the effort to
subdue his fury.
She went back to her own room. A few hours later
came a letter of apology from him. She answered it
friendlily, said she would let him know when she could
see him again, and enclosed a note and a check.
VIII
MILDRED went to bed that night proud of her
strength of character. Were there many women--
was there any other woman she knew or knew about--
who in her desperate circumstances would have done
what she had done? She could have married a man
who would have given her wealth and the very best
social position.
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