"We are not answerable for our likings or antipathies," she replied; "and I am no more accountable for my feeling than you are for your shape. Had you possessed the instincts you speak of--the manhood you claim for yourself, you might have long since secured, at least, my gratitude, and spared us both the ignominy of this night. But it is useless to look back. I have nothing more to say. Let us part--in hate, if you will. I am indifferent alike to your opinions and your vengeance. Avail yourself of whatever power the law gives you; but here we now part, never to meet again!" As she said this, she moved away, and I still lingered behind to protect her retreat, if it should be necessary. "No, madam; not so easily. We do not part. I command you to leave this place, and go with me. It is my pleasure. Do not compel me to enforce it." Seeing him rush forward to follow her, I placed myself between them. "I charge you," cried the dwarf, "to stand out of my path. It will be dangerous." "You have threatened me before," I exclaimed; "and it is full time that you and I should understand each other. I have an advantage over you which I do not desire to use, except in extremity; be careful, therefore, how you provoke it. Advance no further, or I will not answer for the consequences!" "So, then, you champion her in her guilt," he cried. "I know of no guilt," I replied. "I have not interfered hitherto; I had no right to do so. But I will not suffer any violence to be committed toward her; she must be free to act as she pleases!" "And what right have you to interfere now?" "The right which every man has to protect a woman against outrage." "I warn you for the last time!" exclaimed the dwarf, his eyeballs flashing fire. "It is you who have done this; you who have tempted and destroyed her--destroyed us both. Do not urge me to the retribution I thirst for. Put your hand upon me; there is my outstretched arm--only touch it with your fingers, and put me on my defense!" Astræa was standing at my side. "I charge you," she said, "to leave him, and go into the house. He will not dare to follow me!" "I will dare the depths of perdition, and follow you wherever you go. See how he shrinks from me!--this champion and bully, for whom you stand condemned and branded before the world!" "Bully!" I cried, "if you were not the feeble, wretched thing you are, I would strike you to the earth. It is you, not I, that have worked out this shame for your own fiendish ends. Did you not tell me that you helped and encouraged our intercourse--that you saw feelings growing up, and used all your arts to heighten them into an attachment which you knew would bring misery upon us all? For what purpose, devil as you are, did you do this?" "To break her heart--for she had broken mine!"