“What!” she gasped forth. “What!”
“I’m not going to be bullied into doing anything I don’t mean to do by your tragedy airs,” continued Henderson, his passions rising as he spoke. “I’ve made you a fair offer; most of women would consider it a handsome offer, but you’re a fool.”
She looked in his face with a stony look of despair.
“Do you mean to go back from what you promised?” she said.
“I never promised! Once for all, Elsie, make the best of the situation; take my money, and go away.”
“Coward!”
She hissed out this word with bitter emphasis. She stood there facing him pale to the very lips. Henderson held the revolver high in his strong hand, and she knew she could not reach it. He had robbed her of her weapon, but he had not conquered her soul.
“You have lied then,” she said, with concentrated scorn, “as you have done a thousand times. I might have known! But for all that you shall not marry Miss Churchill. I will go to her to-morrow, and tell her the whole story; tell her what you are, and how you have treated me, and I will tell my father.”
“You will do this?” cried Henderson, in sudden fury. “You never shall!”
“I will do it,” repeated Elsie, doggedly.