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 Bennet soothed her but held to his determination. As she yielded she said in explanation:

"I have waited so long for you to come—I have wanted you so much and I need you so much I dread any further parting."

He embraced her tenderly while saying:

"Thank you, Dear Girl for that. It's worth wading through Hell for, and I'll not leave you again. When I go you go with me, and we'll be married. I must first, however, have your father's refusal or consent."

"It will never be consent, Dear. But tell me, where are you stopping. Whom do you know about here.—When did you get here," she prattled happily on, her mood shifting, not waiting for answers to any questions. When she paused, Bennet said:

"I stopped last night with a Mrs. Gorton, back on the road here. I came from Orangeburg yesterday."

At the mention of Mrs. Gorton, Lida gave a little gasp. Bennet turned to her questioning.

"Why, what's the matter? Wasn't that all right?" he asked.

"Ye-e-e-e-e-e-es, I suppose so. How'd you happen to stop there?" she queried.

Bennet then recounted the experience of the day before, telling of the alligator episode and Aunt Sally's hospitality. When he concluded, Lida said:

"She dislikes us—I don't know why.—She even pronounced a curse on us last year," Lida stated half in soliloquy.