his face flaming up, 'I'll find a way to
get in! Now, don't you provoke me! You don't know what I am capable of.
I ask you again, will you open the door?'

'Why do you wish it?' she said faintly.

'I have told you I want to sit down; and I want to ask you a question.'

'You can ask me from where you are.'

'I cannot ask you properly. It is about a serious matter: whether you
will accept my heart and hand. I am not going to throw myself at your
feet; but I ask you to do your duty as a woman, namely, give your solemn
word to take my name as soon as the war is over and I have time to attend
to you. I scorn to ask it of a haughty hussy who will only speak to me
through a window; however, I put it to you for the last time, madam.'

There was no sign on the down of anybody's return, and she said, 'I'll
think of it, sir.'

'You have thought of it long enough; I want to know. Will you or won't
you?'

'Very well; I think I will.' And then she felt that she might be buying
personal safety too dearly by shuffling thus, since he would spread the
report that she had accepted him, and cause endless complication. 'No,'
she said, 'I have changed my mind. I cannot accept you, Mr. Derriman.'

'That's how you play with me!' he exclaimed, stamping. '"Yes," one
moment; "No," the next. Come, you don't know what you refuse. That old
hall is my uncle's own, and he has nobody else to leave it to. As soon
as he's dead I shall throw up farming and start as a squire. And now,'
he added with a bitter sneer, 'what a fool you are to hang back from such
a chance!'

'Thank you, I don't value it,' said Anne.

'Because you hate him who would make it yours?'

'It may not lie in your power to do that.'

'What--has the old fellow been telling you his affairs?'

'No.'

'Then why do you mistrust me? Now, after this will you open the door,
and show that you treat me as a friend if you won't accept me as a lover?
I only want to sit and talk to you.'

Anne thought she would trust him; it seemed almost impossible that he
could harm her. She retired from the window and went downstairs. When
her hand was upon the bolt of the door, her mind misgave her. Instead of
withdrawing it she remained in silence where she was, and he began again--

'Are you going to unfasten it?'

Anne did not speak.

'Now, dash my wig, I will get at you! You've tried me beyond endurance.
One kiss would have been enough that day in the mead; now I'll