The hope that had
begun to swell in her heart was blotted out in a moment. She replied
without hesitation:
"I cannot accede to your last proposition."
"Why not?"
"It is impossible."
"Then you willingly consign me to wretchedness in this life, and to
perdition hereafter."
"I do no such thing. _You_ are not responsible for _my_ acts; and your
repentance can be just as sincere without a wife as with one."
"You are mistaken. If I am doomed to remain among the Indians, I shall
never be able to reform, however earnestly I may desire to do so; and if I
go to the settlements, I shall be slain as a foe, unless protected by
family ties and influence; these I can secure in no other way than by
becoming your husband."
"I am of an entirely different opinion; and I think your whole scheme a
very thin and flimsy contrivance, of which you ought to be ashamed."
"But there are two against you. Mr. Hamilton, as you have already seen,
perfectly coincides with me in his views, and--"
"I beg leave to correct you. Mr. Hamilton never consented to your last
proposition, for the very good reason that it was never mentioned to him;
in this respect you have tried to deceive me; but to put the matter to
rest, at once and forever, let me say, as mistress of my own decisions,
that whether _he_ should consent to your proposition or not, _I never
will_!"
"Then, as you voluntarily cast me off, and consign me to infamy and
hopeless wretchedness, be the consequences upon your own head.
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