L'Oiseau, and urged her, in the most
strenuous manner, to exert her maternal influence in bringing her
daughter to terms.
And Mrs. L'Oiseau sent for Jacquelina, to have a talk with her. But not
all her arguments, entreaties, or even tears, could prevail with the
obstinate bride to relax one single degree of her unforgiving antagonism
to her detested bridegroom.
"Mother," she said, with sorrowful bitterness, "you are well now;
indeed, you never were so ill as I was led to believe; and you are
independent. I parted with my only hope of happiness in life to render
you so; I sold myself in a formal marriage to be the legal medium of
endowing Dr. Grimshaw with a certain landed estate. Even into that
measure I was deceived--no more of that! it crazes me! The conditions
are all fulfilled; he will have the property, and you are independent.
And now he has no further claim upon me, and no power over me!"
"He has, Jacquelina; and it is only Dr. Grimshaw's forbearance that
permits you to indulge in this wicked whim."
"His forbearance! Oh! hasn't he been forbearing, though!" she exclaimed,
with a mocking laugh.
"Yes; he has, little as you are disposed to acknowledge it. You do not
seem to know that he can compel your submission!"
"Can he!" she hissed, drawing her breath sharply through her clenched
teeth, and clutching her fingers convulsively, while a white ring
gleamed around the blue iris of her dilated eyes.
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