It is not my intention to
frighten you. I am no longer angry with either you or the young fool whom
you call your friend. By the way, I have not done him any violence. He
has merely gone to find a lodging for himself and for the motor in the
village. Yes, I turned him out of his own house, but I might have done
worse. I meant to do much worse."
"Yes?" murmured Nan. "Why--why didn't you?"
"Because," he answered grimly, "I found that I had only fools to deal
with."
He paused a moment.
"Well, now for your punishment," he said. "As you remarked just now,
I have you absolutely at my mercy. How much mercy do you expect--or
deserve? Answer me--as my wife."
But she could not answer him. She only bowed her head speechlessly
against the strong hand that still held hers.
She could feel his fingers tightening to a grip. And she knew herself
beaten, powerless.
"Listen to me, Anne!" he said suddenly; and in his voice was something
that she had only heard once before, and that but vaguely. "I am going to
give you a fair chance, in spite of your behaviour to me. I am willing to
believe--I do believe--that, to a certain extent, I drove you to this
course. I also believe that you and your friend Jerry are nothing but a
pair of irresponsible children. I should like to have caned him, but I
had nothing but a loaded horse-whip to do it with, so I was obliged to
let him off.
Pages:
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206