Perhaps, because he was already irritated and slightly strung up by
Cuckoo's attack, he felt a sudden anger against the flame, almost as he
might have felt a rage against a person. As he stared upon it, he could
almost believe that it, too, had eyes, scrutinizing, upbraiding,
condemning him, and that in the thin riband and shade of its fire there
dwelt a heart to hate him for the dear sin to which, at last, he began to
give himself. For the moment Cuckoo and the flame were as one, and for
the moment he feared and hated them both.
Abruptly he held up his hand to stop the further words that were
fluttering on her thin and painted lips.
"Hush!" he said, in a little hiss of protest against sound.
For again, fighting with the anger, there was awe in his heart.
There was something unusual in his expression which held her silent, a
furtive horror and expectation which she did not understand. And while
she waited, Julian turned suddenly, and left the room and the house.
CHAPTER VI
THE LADY OF THE FEATHERS LEARNS WISDOM
Julian did not come again to the house in the Marylebone Road for at
least a fortnight, and during that time the lady of the feathers was left
alone with her life and with her sad thoughts.
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