"Very well: you at the same time gave him your word never to see Hadley
until he was cleared of the crime imputed to him; he believes you have been
unfaithful on your part, and that he, therefore, is no longer bound to
observe the compact entered into between you."

"Again you are guilty of misrepresentation. My father's word was pledged to
me before he had even asked me not to see Mr. Hadley, and there was,
consequently, no compact between us, but a voluntary promise on either
side."

"Which you violated by going to meet Hadley, as you supposed."

"No, sir, I did not. My word was given to be observed so long only as Mr.
Hadley appeared to be guilty. I know him to be innocent, and that knowledge
absolves me."

"As you please on that point; for it matters but little, and does not
change the view taken of the subject by Mr. Mandeville, who, as I said, has
given you to me on the one condition of preventing a union between you and
Hadley; _and I am at liberty to act just as I see fit_ in order to
accomplish this end. Don't you see that I have everything my own way, and
your father's sanction, also, to any measures I may adopt?"

"What you say _may_ be true, though I have no evidence whatever that it is;
for if you would lie to my parent, you would lie to me also. One thing,
however, I _do_ know, and that is, that you have not yet obtained _my_
consent to your proposed measures, and being of age, I have the legal right
to make such disposition of my hand as I may see proper; and be assured I
will never bestow it upon _you_! Sir, I would prefer to wed the vilest
wretch in the Penitentiary of any State before you."

"You may repent the use of such words, fair lady; and, indeed, but for my
merciful feelings toward you, ere this you would have been glad to beg the
boon I now offer and you reject."

"Infamous villain! never!"

"We shall see."

"And we _shall_ see!"

She fixed upon him that look from which he had so often shrunk before, and
again he quailed beneath it.

"From what you have already said," he replied, avoiding her gaze, "I am led
to suppose you suspect me of crimes in the eyes of the law, which it would
not be pleasant for the world to know. This is an additional reason why I
cannot permit you to leave this place except as my wife; for I am not
prepared just yet to enter the court-room. I am persuaded that one of your
strongest reasons for refusing to marry me, has its foundation in a former
preferenc