"I am prepared for your objections--prepared, too, to overcome them," he
said, coolly. "Take time to consider all this. I do not expect an answer
to-day, did not when I came, nor will I accept one signature without the
whole. There is no compromise possible. As to your marriage--it must be
accomplished before you leave this room. I, as a magistrate, can tie the
knot--fast enough to bind all the other agreements to certain
fulfillments, for Gregory is a friend of mine, and a man of honor, and
will see them carried out to the letter. He loves you, too, and proves
it, for he takes you penniless. Afterward a priest may complete the
ceremony if you have any scruples. Then, of course, it rests between you
and Gregory, whether you remain together or separate as wide as the
poles--I shall wash my hands of the whole affair thereafter, having
secured my good name and yours."

I stood with bowed head and moving lips before him--mutely, indignantly.

"I shall, however, make all this," he continued, "appear as well as
possible to your friends and mine, especially, believe me, Miriam! I
shall state, for your sake, that, after being rescued from the raft, you
were partially insane, but still sufficiently mistress of yourself to
coincide with me and your sisters in the wish to let your death as Miss
Harz pass current with the world, until you should redeem your errors"
(what errors?), "and be restored to health and perfect reason. You will
see that your acknowledgment of the last paper includes these
extenuating facts, when you have leisure to re-read it (for I saw how
hastily you glanced over that one in particular); you must do me the
favor to peruse it much more carefully," drawing on his gloves coolly,
"before you make your final decision. You are very comfortable here, my
dear girl," glancing around benignly, "but you have no conception of the
frame of mind, bare walls, utter solitude, a fireless hearth and a
frugal table, would bring about in a very few days or weeks, or even in
one as resolute and defiant as yourself. I should be loath to try such
an experiment _or deprive you of your child_--but _necessitous non habet
legem,_ the school-book says. I think you, too, studied a little Latin,
Miriam?"

"Monster!"

"Not a very relevant or polite remark, I must confess. By-the-by,
Miriam, as you stand before me with your well-poised figure--your
blazing eyes--your quivering nostrils--your curling, compressed
lip--your heaving c