His eyes were fixed upon her left hand.
After a moment she became aware of this, and slipped it carelessly into her pocket.

Whistling softly, she turned to go.
At the foot of the stairs she heard her father's voice, and paused.
"You had better come, too," he was saying to his son-in-law.
Nan wheeled sharply, almost as if she would protest, but she checked her words unspoken.
Quietly Piet Cradock was making reply: "Thank you, Colonel.

I think I had better." Across the hall Nan met his gaze still unwaveringly fixed upon her, and she returned it with the utmost defiance of which she was capable.

Did he actually fancy that she could be coerced into joining him, she asked herself--she who had always been free as the air?
Well, he would soon discover his mistake.

She would begin to teach him from that moment.
With her head still held high, she turned and mounted the stairs.
Mona was waiting for her in much disturbance of spirit.
"He arrived early this afternoon," was her report.