She's a _beast!"_ "Tita!" Her husband stares at her aghast.

The small form seems transfigured.
Has she grown?
"Yes--a _beast!_ I don't care what you think.

I'm not afraid of you--remember that! I was not even afraid of Uncle George.

I shall never be afraid of anyone in all this wide, wide world!" Suddenly her passion breaks down.

Her arms fall to her sides, and she leans back against the end of her bed like a broken lily.
"Tita--if you would let me explain," says Rylton, who is overcome by her forlorn attitude, "I----" "No." He would have laid his hands gently upon her pretty bare shoulders, but she repulses him.