f necessary, all
that depends upon her consent."

"She would die rather than be faithless to her betrothed."

"Possibly, supposing that she cares for him--which is doubtful under the
circumstances--she might die rather than discard him; but do you not see
that she would discard him rather than bring upon her family unutterable
misery and degradation?"

"Do you not see--ruthless fiend that you are! do you not know, even if I
and my daughter were mad enough to favor your pretensions, that her
father, who alone has the disposal of her hand, would never, never consent
to forego his cherished plan of uniting his heiress with one of her own
name, so that the family name may go down with the family estate to
posterity--to give her to you, a stranger, an adventurer for aught he
knows?"

"Most certainly he would--and he will, when he should believe, as he must
be made to believe, that his dear daughter has ceased to care for that
sailor whose very face she has almost forgotten, and that she has learned
to love a certain gay and gallant soldier--has left the navy for the army,
so to speak! And when he hears that her happiness, if you please--her
happiness, depends upon her marriage with him! And so on and so on! You
know how to manage both father and daughter! I leave the matter entirely
in your hands! But understand this--Odalite must be my wife before that
young midshipman returns home to make trouble. And the marriage must be
made to appear to everybody to be her own choice. You may give the girl as
much or as little of your confidence as you see fit, only make her clearly
comprehend the consequences of her refusal. When she accepts, as she must
accept, my proposal, let her know and feel the absolute necessity of her
seeming to wish the marriage, especially when in the presence of her
father. You understand. It is useless to prolong a painful interview. I
leave you to carry out my instructions," said the colonel; and rising,
with a low bow, he left the room.

As soon as he was gone the miserable woman started up from her seat,
clasped her hands above her head, and walked wildly up and down the room,
muttering to herself like any maniac:

"Oh, wretch! wretch! wretch! to stretch me upon such a rack! to put me to
such straits! If it were not for Abel! If it were not for my dear, noble,
generous husband, I could brave the worst for myself--and, yes, even for
my children! I could take them and go away into exile, poverty, obs