your wife, widow, mother, daughter, _fiancee_ or sister--who is
not--"

"That will do, if you please!" Carlisle's hot temper named into his
freckled face.

"Why so touchy?"

"It is within a man's rights to choose his own company and his own
ways. I am not accountable, except as I choose."

The other man was studying him closely, noting his flush, his
irritation, his uneasiness. "But what I am saying now is that it
is cruel, unusual, inhuman and unconstitutional to be so selfish
about it. Come, I shall only relent when you have shown yourself
more kind. For instance, in the matter of her table in the
dining-room--"

"The lady has expressed a desire to remain quite alone, my dear
sir. I must bow to her will. It is her privilege to come and go
as she likes."

"She may come and go as she likes?" queried Dunwody, still smiling.
There was a look on his face which caused Carlisle suddenly to turn
and examine him sharply.

"Naturally."

"Without your consent, even?"