"Were it but the twentieth part of an instant--the least conceivable space of subdivided time--still, you _did_ meet--he saw you--you spoke to him. And me also you must see--me also you must hear! Or I will first claim you for my own in the face of the world; and, having vindicated my rights, I will seek out and extinguish the wretched rival who has dared to interfere with them." "Can you speak thus?" said Clara--"can you so burst through the ties of nature?--Have you a heart!" "I have; and it shall be moulded like wax to your slightest wishes, if you agree to do me justice; but not granite, nor aught else that nature has of hardest, will be more inflexible if you continue an useless opposition!--Clara Mowbray, I am your Fate." "Not so, proud man," said Clara, rising, "God gave not one potsherd the power to break another, save by his divine permission--my fate is in the will of Him, without whose will even a sparrow falls not to the ground.--Begone--I am strong in faith of heavenly protection." "Do you speak thus in sincerity?" said the Earl of Etherington; "consider first what is the prospect before you. I stand here in no doubtful or ambiguous character--I offer not the mere name of a husband--propose to you not a humble lot of obscurity and hardship, with fears for the past and doubts for the future; yet there _was_ a time when to a suit like this you could listen favourably.--I stand high among the nobles of the country, and offer you, as my bride, your share in my honours, and in the wealth which becomes them.--Your brother is my friend, and favours my suit. I will raise from the ground, and once more render illustrious, your ancient house--your motions shall be regulated by your wishes, even by your caprices--I will even carry my self-denial so far, that you shall, should you insist on so severe a measure, have your own residence, your own establishment, and without intrusion on my part, until the most devoted love, the most unceasing attentions, shall make way on your inflexible disposition.--All this I will consent to for the future--all that is past shall be concealed from the public.--But mine, Clara Mowbray, you must be." "Never--never!" she said with increasing vehemence. "I can but repeat a negative, but it shall have all the force of an oath.--Your rank is nothing to me--your fortune I scorn--my brother has no right, by the law of Scotland, or of nature, to compel my inclinations.--I detest your treachery, and I scorn the advantage you propose to attain by it.--Should the law give you my hand, it would but award you that of a corpse." "Alas! Clara," said the Earl, "you do but flutter in the net; but I will urge you no farther, now--there is another encounter before me." He was turning away, when Clara, springing forward, caught him by the arm, and repeated, in a low and impressive voice, the commandment,--"Thou shalt do no murder!"