"Because I have long been engaged to my cousin, Mr. Leonidas Force, who is coming home at Christmas, when we shall be married and go to live at Greenbushes, as you know very well, Col. Anglesea, for you have heard the whole matter freely discussed. You know this so well that I am surprised at the inconsistency of your action in offering me your hand."

"That childish engagement, made so long ago--if it was ever formally made at all, which is doubtful--really amounts to nothing whatever! It could form no obstacle to your union with me."

"You mistake, sir. Although the engagement was not formal, it was so well understood that all the preparations have been ordered and begun by both parties. But that you may clearly understand me, Col. Anglesea, and that you may drop this matter at once and forever, I must a.s.sure you that if I were entirely free I could never accept your offer, because I could never like you well enough."

Notwithstanding her decided refusal and frank explanation, Anglesea would take no denial, but continued to press his odious suit, until at length Joshua, seeing his mistress' distress, and knowing who caused it, started up and made a spring at the man's throat. Quick as lightning Odalite seized the dog by the collar and drew him down.

"You see," she said, "if you continue to persecute me, I shall not be able to keep the dog off you. I think you had better go home."

"And I think you had better quiet that brute! For if he should attack me again, I shall shoot him dead," exclaimed Anglesea, savagely, drawing a small revolver from his pocket and holding it in his hand.

The girl looked up at the man for the first time since they had met in the wood, but it was with a gaze so fearless, so full of scorn, that the ruffian's eyes fell beneath it.

"Come, Joshua, good dog, let us go home. We have 'fallen among thieves'

this morning. Our woods are no longer safe for you and me. They are infested with brigands! Do you know what a brigand is, Joshua? A brigand is a fine, brave, terrible soldier, who is not afraid of anything! Not even afraid of insulting young ladies and shooting their faithful dogs.

When armed to the teeth, he is the terror of little boys and baby girls.

Come, Joshua!"

She arose, and keeping her hand on the dog's collar, recrossed the bridge, and walked leisurely along the woodland path.

Col. Anglesea left his perch on the railing, and, with a mocking smile, sauntered after her.

She turned upon him with flashing eyes.

"Keep your distance, sir! If you presume to come near me, as I live, I will go to my father as soon as I get home, and appeal to him for protection from you!" she said, still holding a firm grip upon the collar of Joshua, who was grimly showing his teeth and growling

"Full defiance, hate and scorn"

of the intruder on his mistress' company.

Now that Mr. Force should hear of Angus Anglesea's suit to his daughter from herself, and at this stage of the proceedings, was a misfortune that Col. Anglesea would most earnestly have deprecated. So he bowed with mock submission and replied:

"Pardon me, I will say no more. Your mother must be my advocate with you.

I must send her to you to plead my cause."

And with another and a deeper bow he stepped to the side of the path and let the girl and her dog pa.s.s on before him.

CHAPTER VIII

IN THE CRUCIBLE

He promptly kept his word. He struck into the woods, made a short detour, and came out again upon the path some yards in front of Odalite and her guardian. Walking rapidly, he arrived at home before her.

He went immediately in search of Mrs. Force, whom he found at her piano in the drawing room.

"I must have a few moments uninterrupted conversation with you. Where can I best secure it?"

"Here," she answered, wearily. "No one is likely to enter and disturb you."

"Very well, then. Here be it," he a.s.sented, walking down the room to a group of chairs near the open fire.

She arose and followed him.

As soon as they were seated he said:

"I have just left your daughter. I have made her an offer of my hand."

"Well?"

"She refused it."

"Just what you might have expected."

"Thank you."

"What next?"

"I am not a man to be repulsed. I pressed my suit with some earnest persistency."

"And then?"

"She threatened to appeal to her father for protection against me."

"Poor Odalite! Poor child!" murmured the unhappy mother.

"Poor idiot!" brutally exclaimed the man. "See here, madam, I shall insist upon this marriage. If she is permitted to appeal to her father at this point I shall be disappointed, but you will be lost. You must see the girl at once, before the return of her father this evening. You must induce her to accept me for her husband. She must be made to do so, or pretend to do so, willingly, joyfully. You know best what arguments to use with her. You must also persuade your husband to consent to the marriage, for the sake of his dear daughter's happiness, you understand."

"For the sake of his dear daughter's 'happiness'!" moaned Elfrida Force, in mournful irony.

"Yes. I repeat it. For the sake of her happiness. How, under existing circ.u.mstances, should her happiness be best preserved, do you think? By marrying that young naval officer, and seeing, as a consequence, the ruin and dishonor of her whole family, and, bitterest of all, being made to feel the shame and regret of her own young husband for having married her, the daughter of----"

"Wretch! hold your tongue!" exclaimed Elfrida Force, clasping her head with both hands.

"Or," relentlessly continued the man, "would her happiness be best secured by marrying me, who, knowing the skeleton in the closet, accepts it with other family inc.u.mbrances, and keeps it closely locked up from the knowledge of all, since his honor is then also concerned in its concealment, and in the social rank and domestic peace of his new relations? Now, then, answer me. Which fate is to be preferred for your daughter?"

"Oh, demon! I think a marriage with you the worst possible fate that could befall my child. If she only were in question I would--oh, my Lord, how gladly!--lay her in her coffin rather than give her to you. But it is not of her that I am thinking most," moaned the lady, almost unconsciously, as she bowed her weary head upon her hand.

No, nor was it over the child, but over the husband she was mourning--the adored husband--the proud, sensitive, honorable man, whose head would be bowed to the dust with shame at any reproach, however undeserved, that might fall upon his wife.

Who cannot foresee the result of such a contest? Before the end of the interview the mother had consented to offer up her child, that the wife might save her husband.

Angus Anglesea left the room triumphant.

Elfrida Force crept up to her bedchamber, opened a little medicine chest, took from it a small vial containing a colorless liquid, poured out a few drops in a winegla.s.s half full of water, and drank off the sedative.