fused
Falcon's arm, and walked swiftly home by herself. Not that she had the
slightest intention of passing this monstrous thing by in silence. On
the contrary, her wrath was boiling over, and so hot that she knew she
should make a scene in the street if she said a word there.

Once inside the house she turned on Falcon, with a white cheek and a
flashing eye, and said, "Follow me, sir, if you please." She led the
way to her father's study. "Papa," said she, "I throw myself on your
protection. Mr. Falcon has affronted me."

"Oh, Rosa!" cried Falcon, affecting utter dismay.

"Publicly--publicly: he has had the banns of marriage cried in the
church, without my permission."

"Don't raise your voice so loud, child. All the house will hear you."

"I choose all the house to hear me. I will not endure it. I will never
marry you now--never!"

"Rosa, my child," said Lusignan, "you need not scold poor Falcon, for I
am the culprit. It was I who ordered the banns to be cried."

"Oh! papa, you had no right to do such a thing as that."

"I think I had. I exercised parental authority for once, and for your
good, and for the good of a true and faithful lover of yours, whom you
jilted once, and now you trifle with his affection and his interests.
He loves you too well to leave you; yet you know his vast estates and
interests require supervision."

"That for his vast estates!" said Rosa contemptuously. "I am not to be
driven to the altar like this, when my heart is in the grave. Don't
you do it again, papa, or I'll get up and forbid the banns; affront for
affront."

"I should like to see that," said the old gentleman dryly.

Rosa vouchsafed no reply, but swept out of the room, with burning cheeks
and glittering eyes, and was not seen all day, would not dine with them,
in spite of three humble, deprecating notes Falcon sent her.

"Let the spiteful cat alone," said old Lusignan. "You and I will dine
together in peace and quiet."

It was a dull dinner; but Falcon took advantage of the opportunity,
impregnated the father with his views, and got him to promise to have
the banns cried next Sunday. He consented.

Rosa learned next Sunday morning that this was to be done, and her
courage failed her. She did not go to church at all.

She cried a great deal, and submitted to violence, as your true women
are too apt to do. They had compromised her, and so conquered her. The
permanent feelings of gratitude and esteem caused a reacti