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 She would have passed him in silence, but he prevented her by catching her hand.

"I came hither, Madam (said he in a sullen voice), on purpose to converse with you; I cannot therefore let you depart abruptly."

"Well, Sir (cried Madeline), I am ready to hear whatever you wish to say."

"But will you promise not to hear without regarding it?" demanded he in a gentler tone than he had before used.

"I never make promises I am not certain of fulfilling," replied Madeline.

Tis impossible (said he) to express the mortification, the disappointment, I feel in consequence of your rejection of the proposals which I made this morning; proposals approved by your father, and also sanctioned by the Marquis. Surely (he continued), you should not have rejected them, without being assured that their acceptance never could have contributed to your happiness;