Full in the eyes she looked him with those wide angry eyes of hers--never before had he seen her so imperial a mien.

Her dignity and the power of her presence literally awed him, for at times Beatrice's beauty was of that royal stamp which when it hides a heart, is a compelling force, conquering and born to conquer.
"Does it not strike you, Mr.Bingham," she said quietly, "that you are taking a very great liberty?
Does it not strike you that no man who is not a relation has any right to speak to a woman as you have spoken to me ?--that, in short, you have been guilty of what in most people would be an impertinence?
What right have you to dictate to me as to whom I should or should not marry?
Surely of all things in the world that is my own affair." Geoffrey coloured to the eyes.

As would have been the case with most men of his class, he felt her accusation of having taken a liberty, of having presumed upon an intimacy, more keenly than any which she could have brought against him.
"Forgive me," he said humbly.

"I can only assure you that I had no such intention.

I only spoke--ill-judgedly, I fear--because--because I felt driven to it." Beatrice took no notice of his words, but went on in the same cold voice.
"What right have you to speak of my affairs with Mr.Davies, with an old boatman, or even with my father?
Had I wished you to do so I should have asked you.