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“Are we coming back a different way?” she asked.

“Have you only just noticed that? I turned off the main road six or seven miles back.”

“Is this shorter?”

“No, a good bit longer.”

“Then—why? I think you might have asked me if I wished to prolong the drive. I do not. I’m very tired.”

Her voice quivered. Power drove on, slowly, for the ruts were bad, his eyes looking straight ahead.

“I’m sorry you’re tired, because we’re a long way from home. I chose this road on purpose because I want to give you as much time as you want.”

“Time for what?”

“I may as well be quite frank about it. You can be as long as you please with your answer, but I am not going to take you home until you have promised to marry me.”

“If this is meant for a joke, Mr. Power, you must forgive me for failing to find it at all amusing.” Then a sudden note of authority sounded: “Drive me home at once!”

He smiled, and did not reply. Pamela looked round her wildly. The trees were thick along one side of the lane, on the other side were fields, but no sign of a house anywhere.

“I gave you my answer some time ago. If I had not thought you understood it was final I should have gone back to England at once. Do you imagine that you can bully me into saying what you dictate?”

“It’s plain you did not understand me either. I believe I told you that I always get what I want. I have been very patient, but———”

There was a sudden change in his voice which stopped Pamela’s heart for a moment. Then the blood sang in her ears, and Power’s next words came from a great distance.

“Come, be sensible! I don’t want to keep you here all night. If you continue obstinate and drive me to that,