He seized her hand and drew
her towards him, exclaiming in an eager, breathless, half-whisper:
"No! closer and closer shall my love draw us, beautiful one! until it
compasses your hate and unites us forever!"
With a half-suppressed cry she wrung her hand from his grasp and
answered, wildly:
"I sought your presence to entreat you--and to warn you! I have
supplicated you, and you have turned a deaf ear to my prayer! Now I warn
you! and disregard my warning, if you dare! despise it at your peril! I
am going out of my wits, I think! I warn you that I may consent to
become your wife! I have no persevering resistance in my nature. I
cannot hold out forever against those I love. But I warn you, that if
ever I consent, it will be under the undue influence of others!"
"Put your consent upon any ground you please, you delightful, you
enchanting little creature. We will spare your blushes, charming as they
are!" he exclaimed, surprised out of self-control and seizing both her
hands.
Angrily she snatched them from him.
"What have I said? Oh! what have I said? I believe I am going crazy! I
tell you, Dr. Grimshaw, that if I ever yield, it will be only to the
overwhelming force brought to bear upon me; and even then it will be
only during a temporary fit of insanity! And I warn you--I warn you not
to dare to take me at my word!"
"Will I not? You bewitching little sprite! do you do this to make me
love you ten thousand times more than I do?"
Passionately she broke forth in reply:
"You do not believe me! You do not see that I am in terrible earnest! I
tell you, Dr.
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