"Hold your peace, madam," said he. "When called upon to speak, you
will find your words with difficulty enough. Sir, I am waiting for
an answer from you."
"But, uncle, he is nothing to me;--the gentleman is nothing to me!"
"By the heavens above us, he shall be something, or I will know the
reason why! What! he has gone off with you; he has travelled
through the country with you, hiding you from your only natural
friend; he has been your companion for weeks--"
"Six days, sir," said I.
"Sir!" said the baronet, again giving me the lie. "And now," he
continued, addressing his niece, "you tell me that he is nothing to
you. He shall give me his promise that he will make you his wife at
the consulate at Alexandria, or I will destroy him. I know who he
is."
"If you know who I am," said I, "you must know--"
But he would not listen to me. "And as for you, madam, unless he
makes me that promise--" And then he paused in his threat, and,
turning round, looked me in the face. I saw that she also was
looking at me, though not openly as he did; and some flattering
devil that was at work round my heart, would have persuaded that she
also would have heard a certain answer given without dismay,--would
even have received comfort in her agony from such an answer.
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