"Lie still," she commanded savagely.

"Do you hear?
Do you know what this is, Mlle.
Celie ?" And she held the flask towards the girl's face.

"This is vitriol, my pretty one.

Move, and I'll spoil these smooth white shoulders for you.

How would you like that ?" Celia shuddered from head to foot, and, burying her face in the cushion, lay trembling.