Clara disdained reply, except by permitting her clear eye to pass over

him from head to foot with an expression of consuming scorn that

scathed him to the quick.

"I tell you to be careful, Clara Day! I come to you armed with the

authority of your legal guardian, my father, Colonel Le Noir, who will

forestall your foolish purpose of throwing yourself and your fortune

away upon a beggar, even though to do so he strain his authority and

coerce you into taking a more suitable companion," said Craven Le Noir,

rising impatiently and pacing the floor. But no sooner had he spoken

these words than he saw how greatly he had injured his cause and

repented them. Going to Clara and intercepting her as she was about to

leave the room, he gently took her hand and, dropping his eyes to the

floor with a look of humility and penitence, he said: "Clara, my sweet cousin, I know not how sufficiently to express my

sorrow at having been hurried into harshness toward you--toward you

whom I love more than my own soul, and whom it is the fondest wish of

my heart to call wife. I can only excuse myself for this or any future

extravagance of manner by my excessive love for you and the jealousy

that maddens my brain at the bare mention of my rival. That is it,

sweet girl. Can you forgive one whom love and jealousy have hurried

into frenzy?"

"Mr. Le Noir, the Bible enjoins me to forgive injuries. I shall

endeavor, when I can, to forgive you, though for the present my heart

is still burning under the sense of wrongs done toward myself and those

whom I love and esteem, and the only way in which you can make me

forget what has just passed will be--never to repeat the offence." And

with these words Clara bent her head and passed from the room.

Could she have seen the malignant scowl and gesture with which Craven

Le Noir followed her departure, she would scarcely have trusted his

expressions of penitence.

Lifting his arm above his head he fiercely shook his fist after her and

exclaimed: "Go on, insolent girl, and imagine that you have humbled me; but the

tune shall be changed by this day month, for before that time whatever

power the law gives the husband over his wife and her property shall be

mine over you and your possessions. Then we will see who shall be

insolent; then we shall see whose proud blue eye shall day after day

dare to look up and rebuke me. Oh! to get you in my power, my girl! Not

that I love you, moon-faced creature, but I want your possessions,

which is quite as strong an incentive."




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