By Their Fruits; A Novel (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV The following morning Aglaia had just finished a late breakfast when Kinrace drove up in his car. He was alone, as usual, except for the dog at his side. The poodle barked an excited greeting as they entered the house. Aglaia, however, silenced with the point of her shoe Jacquot's vociferous delight at sight of her and ordered him at once to the kitchen. The dog never dared to disobey when the fear of the shoe was before him, and slunk off miserably to the lower regions. Kinrace and Aglaia were left together in the little drawing-room. She stood facing him, her blue eyes very bright, her small white teeth glistening between smiling red lips. She was charmingly dressed in a fresh white serge frock, with touches of rose-colour which made her look dainty and flower-like. Kinrace, knowing her careless habits of dress in the morning, accepted the improvement in her appearance as a compliment to himself. The man's full under lip trembled. Directly the door was closed, he advanced with arms outstretched. But she retreated, mocking him. " All in good time, sir. First, where is my little flacon of bliss? I don't give sugar-plums without payment. There, then." She kissed the tips of her fingers to him as she backed further, laughing in his face. Kinrace's features hardened. " It is like you to tantalise me with the smallest of love- coins on account of promissory notes which you refuse to honour when they fall due," he said bitterly. Aglaia mocked still, now advancing a little with serpentine grace. " I never pay bills, if I can help it. I prefer to live on credit." " Love, my pretty lady, is a creditor who won't be put off; and just now he is in the mood to insist upon his claims being recognised." " Insist? Mon Dieu ! I do not understand that word. Come,...