I am glad we have a chance of explaining matters so soon." "Yes," said Godfrey, but in a wrathful voice, for he felt anger stirring in him.

Perhaps it was excited by that ancient instinct which causes the male animal to resent the spying upon him when he is courting his female as the deadliest of all possible insults, or perhaps by some prescience of affronts which were about to be offered to him and Isobel by these two whom he knew to be bitterly hostile.

At least his temper was rising, and like most rather gentle-natured men when really provoked and cornered, he could be dangerous.
"Yes," he repeated, "let us go out and see this matter through." So they went, Sir John and Mr.Knight drawing back a little before them, till they were brought to a halt by the horrible memorial which the former had erected over his wife's grave.

Here they stood, prepared for the encounter.

Sir John was the first to take the lists, saying: "Perhaps you will explain, Isobel, why I found you, as I thought, kissing this young fellow--like any village slut beneath a hedge." Isobel's big eyes grew steely as she answered: "For the same reason, Father.