She had attempted to break away and leave him, when he had thrust her back upon the seat from which she had arisen.
“There!” he went on, hissing out his words madly. “Sit you there and listen: If you will marry me quietly, as it is your duty to do, all may be well. I will do by you, for your good and comfort, all that any man could do. I will be a true husband to you, kind and loving. But if you refuse me, if you persist in your stubborn will not to be my wife, if you hold out against me and persuade my grandfather to join you, if you do this I will make your life a living torture! I will strike you down so that you shall cry to me for mercy! Aye, the time shall come when you will beg of me to take pity on you and make you my wife! How do you like the picture?”
“Lord Oakleigh! Let me go! I have no more to say.”
“I ask you, how do you like the picture I have drawn?”
“You need no answer. You do not wish for an answer. If you can find delight in torturing me I suppose I must submit until I can break from you.”
“Why don’t you call me, Monster!--as I see it plainly in your mind to call me?”
“Simply, sir, because I prefer that you should characterize yourself.”
“Cordelia! By --! I would give a thousand pounds if you could be a man for just one poor minute! It is a wonder that I do not strike you where you sit.”
“And yet you ask me to become your wife! I can scarcely understand you.”
“My dear lady, you will understand me better before you are four months older; for I swear, by the heaven above me! that you shall be my wife! Do you hear that? Hold! Just a moment more.” And he looked down upon her with an expression on his dark, passion-wrought face that startled her anew.
“Do you think I do not know which way your fancy is tending?” he demanded, his terrible wrath causing the last drop of blood to leave his face. “As I live, I believe you would marry that smuggler’s brat to-morrow, if your guardian would suffer it! Oh it makes you wince, does it? I think I will see the gentleman.”
“Monster! let me go!” And thus exclaiming she sprang from him, and leaped away. He jumped to catch her; but, at that moment, two men-servants approached the place, and he gave it up, and drew back into the arbor.