“But she does not love you _now_! She cannot love you _yet_! She loves Frank in his shroud better than any one left alive!” “I do not care! She must forget Frank, and love me! Women can be made to feel or feign anything, by one who understands them.” “But her heart is breaking, I tell you!” “It must stop breaking, and nerve itself to life.” “She is weeping her life away! She is a Niobe, I tell you! A living fountain of tears!” “She shall dry them and smile! See if I do not make her do it! Pooh! it is baby love, all this! Do you think a girl of her age, can feel any lasting love, or grief, or enduring passion of any sort at all? Pooh, pooh! I tell you if her lap-dog were killed, she would blubber and weep as much over its death, as she does over this other puppy’s fate! But, once for all, Mr. Clifton, I tell you I do not intend to be put off, or in any way annoyed by this girl’s grief and petulance. It is not well for you, her, or myself, that it should be indulged. Give her to me at once, according to your promise, and afterward I shall know how to deal with her—far better than you seem to know.” “And you really wish to marry her in her present state, and take her home with you?” “Yes! What objection? A wedding-party is not an indispensable accessory to the ceremony. A bridal journey from here to Richmond would be a very good substitute. Indeed, since the catastrophe of the last wedding-party at Clifton, I think the bridal journey would be in the best taste.” “Umph! And you would marry her so, and so take her away?” “Certainly.” “_Brute!_” “Sir?” “BRUTE, I say! She would rather lie down with Frank in his bloody grave than marry you! And _I_ would rather lay my child there—ALIVE—than give her to you! There, it is said! Now, I hope you understand me?” Major Cabell brought his two fierce brown eyes to bear upon Mr. Old Gentleman, and gazed as if he thought him bereft of his senses. Then he spoke in a peculiarily thin, smooth, distinct voice— “Do you mean what you say, sir?” “Yes I do! There!” “And have you duly considered this, sir?” “Yes I have! There!” “And you know and are prepared to meet the consequences?” “Yes! Do your worst! There!” said the old man, setting down his foot. Major Cabell arose and walked up and down the floor in deep, perplexed thought. To say that he was surprised at this sudden, unexpected rebellion and daring on the part of Mr. Clifton would not be sufficient. He was just _astounded_, and could not surmise where the strength of the old man to oppose him, with his claims and his power, could come from! He thought some external aid had been given! He never guessed that it was the internal victory of conscience over cowardice. Old Mr. Clifton also arose and stretched himself, expanding his chest, and taking a long, deep breath of intense relief and satisfaction, saying— “Thank Heaven, I feel better. Feel more like a man than I have felt for ten years. Now let the worst come, I can meet it!”