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Rh emotions, alarm and wounded love holding place inferior to a sort of cruel impatience, as if he longed above all things else to have this calm and haughty rebel in his power, and to try upon her fair person and disdainful spirit some of those arts of subjugation mentioned by his sister a little while previously. But, looking at him with a smile of superb contempt, she said very quietly,—

"It is of no use for us to talk more upon this matter, Mr. Hetherford. No human power can compel me to become your wife, and most certainly I never will. Neither will I leave this house; and, since Mercy cannot remain with me, I must remain alone."

"I wouldn't stay anyhow, after your using my brother such a fashion," exclaimed Mercy angrily. "I reckon you'll sing another song though, after your mother comes home. You'll be glad enough to eat humble-pie then, and maybe"—

"Hold your tongue," interrupted Reuben savagely, he being one of the many persons who cannot endure anybody's ill-temper but their own; and turning to Molly, with an attempt at her own quiet dignity, he said,—

"Well, Mary, we shall have to leave you, since you're so set on staying; and if I go out of your house this way I shall not enter it again without a good deal of urging. You had better think twice before you say the last word: you had better look well at the consequences."

"I have thought and I have looked, and I am quite