Clara
had scarcely come to this resolution ere, as we said, an imminent
crisis obliged her to seek the further aid of Capitola.
Craven Le Noir had never abated his unacceptable attentions to the
orphan heiress. Day by day, on the contrary, to Clara's unspeakable
distress, these attentions grew more pointed and alarming.
At first she had received them coldly and repulsed them gently; but
as they grew more ardent and devoted she became colder and more
reserved, until at length, by maintaining a freezing hauteur at
variance with her usually sweet temper, she sought to repel the
declaration that was ever ready to fall from his lips.
But, notwithstanding her evident abhorrence of his suit, Craven Le
Noir persisted in his purpose.
And so one morning he entered the parlor and, finding Clara alone,
he closed the door, seated himself beside her, took her hand and
made a formal declaration of love and proposal of marriage, urging
his suit with all the eloquence of which he was master.
Now, Clara Day, a Christian maiden, a recently bereaved orphan and
an affianced bride, had too profound a regard for her duties toward
God, her father's will and her betrothed husband's rights to treat
this attempted invasion of her faith in any other than the most
deliberate, serious and dignified manner.
"I am very sorry, Mr. Le Noir, that it has at length come to this.
Pages:
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104