"You like it, do you? Very well, I will change the key a little then, just a little, and let you have a peep at yourself. You pretend to entertain sentiments of regard for me; but you know, and I know also, that it is my father's wealth of which you are enamored." "No, I swear to you, I love _you_!" "And I know that is a false oath. You base hypocrite! do you think for a moment that I cannot and do not see through your flimsy gauze of deception? I can read your guilty soul as a book; I know your motives, and I know that a pure, generous, or noble sentiment never had a lodgment in your breast. You are base, corrupt, cowardly and unmanly in every sense of the word. There is not a redeeming trait in your character. You are false to your friends, you cajole your enemies, and prey upon community. You _know_ this is a true picture of yourself, only that 'the half has not been told;' and yet you have the unblushing audacity to talk to me of _love_!" "Yes; and what is more, I am going to wed you." "Sir! never dare to utter such a word in my presence again!" "Ha, ha, ha! That _is_ rich, any how! Ha, ha! A weak prisoner to dare a mighty captor in that way! You certainly must forget where you are, my pretty little defiant beauty! Why I could just as easily compel a compliance with my wishes, as make you a listener to my discourse." "Not quite, sir; you might possibly find yourself slightly mistaken should you attempt too much, and I give you fair warning to beware what you do!" "Ha, ha, ha! Why, my love, I could conquer you with one hand." "You had better not try it, sir!" "I certainly would make an effort had I not already allowed you a week to make up your mind. But to show you how completely you are in my power, I will just plant a kiss on your ruby lips--" "Never, sir; _never_!" said she, with flashing eye. "Dare to touch me with your polluted hand, and you die on the spot!" "Ha! what's that I hear? Talk of killing, do you? Well, we shall see." And he took a step toward her, with the intention of carrying out his threat. "Stop, sir!" she said; and there was that in the tone of her voice which arrested him as suddenly as would a bar of iron interposed across his way. "Know," she continued, "that lips polluted as yours are can never come in contact with mine! I would sooner press mine to the slimy carcass of a decaying animal, than permit them even to touch yours! and I would far rather inhale the atmosphere from putrid flesh, aye, from the vilest carrion, than that your foul breath should enter my nostrils! This, sir, will give a faint idea of the utter detestation, the inexpressible loathing, I feel for you." "By heavens! you shall repent of this in sackcloth and ashes! Detest and loathe as you please, you _shall_ feel my lips upon your own! and that now!"