“It is a wife’s duty to obey her husband.”
“Naturally; but this marriage of ours was for a special purpose, you see; and we were agreed upon it.”
“If you care for your wife’s safety, to say nothing of your own, you will take my advice, monsieur, and leave the country with her.”
“It is all so unexpected.” I spoke in the manner of one taken unawares. “I will take a day to consider what to do.”
“No, you must decide now,” he replied firmly; thinking no doubt, as I intended he should, that I wished to use the interval to get rid of the papers.
“In a matter of such importance one must have time,” I protested with a spice of indignation. “It is only reasonable.” I was growing manifestly more and more uneasy, and he perceived it. “It means so much.”
“It means—everything to you both, so far as your future is concerned.”
“I must have time,” I repeated, and began to pace the room.
“I can grant none.”
“But it does not rest with you to either grant or refuse it,” I retorted, as if now attempting to put a bolder face on things.