Hardly were the words—
“You all consent then?” out of her father’s mouth, than she stood up opposite to him—alone, defiant.
“No, father, they do not consent.”
All heads were turned towards the young girl, whose voice they were so unaccustomed to hear in these assemblies, whose very presence they no doubt had forgotten, or they never would have discussed the dreaded topic before her. She had latterly been so much one of themselves, that her very sex had been forgotten in good-fellowship and camaraderie, and none had thought of forbidding her to come to-night when a death-sentence was to be passed, which her woman’s ear had no right to hear.
“Maria,” said Mirkovitch, somewhat gently, “I am sure all our friends will agree in blaming me severely for allowing you to be here to-night. The harm done, however, cannot now be undone; we must all of us only entreat of your good sense, of your patriotism, not to try to oppose your weak will against what has been decided for the good of the cause, but to endeavour to gather strength, such as is necessary, if you wish to become a useful member of the fraternity. In the meanwhile you must let me take you home. This is, indeed, no place for one so young as you.”
She had listened to him somewhat impatiently, though respectfully, since he was her father, but as soon as he paused she resumed—
“My friends, my comrades, my brothers. I have no right, I know, beyond that of friendship, to force you to listen to me, but I know so well what is passing in the minds of you all at this moment. You have none of you paused to think what a dastardly crime it is that you are all meditating——”
“Maria!” thundered Mirkovitch’s imperious voice.
“No, I will not stop, my father, even if you all should decide that my audacity shall be punished with the same assassin’s dagger you are even now sharpening for a helpless, defenceless youth.”
Mirkovitch had advanced towards his daughter, a dangerous look was in his eyes, ten pairs of hands interposed to prevent the father from striking that audacious daughter. No one else had spoken, and Maria had repeated: “No, that hideous, that low, dastardly crime will, thank God, never be accomplished.”