When she found herself face to face with the tyrant, however, not one word could she speak.

She opened her mouth, but throat and tongue refused their offices, and she stood gasping.

The master stared, his arm arrested in act to strike, and his face turned over his left shoulder, with all the blackness of his anger at Forbes lowering upon Annie.

He stood thus for one awful moment, then motioning her aside with a sweep of his head, brought down the tawse upon the hand which Alec had continued to hold outstretched, with the vehemence of accumulated wrath.

Annie gave a choking cry, and Alec, so violent was the pain, involuntarily withdrew his hand.