“But, good Heaven, sir——”
“Patience, Le. Hear me out. But, because that marriage was wicked and immoral, it shall never go a step further—it shall never be completed. That villain shall never see or speak to my daughter again. I swear it before high heaven! I shall keep Odalite at home under my own immediate protection. If the scoundrel is not hanged or sent to the devil in some other way before many years, I suppose I shall be compelled to advise my daughter to seek relief from the law. She could get it without the slightest difficulty.”
“But why not now?” pleaded the young man.
“Because of the humiliation. It will seem a less matter years hence.”
“And in the meantime,” said Le, bitterly, “I am to cherish murder in my heart day and night by wishing that man dead!”
“Hush, Le, hush! Such thought is sin and leads to crime.”
Le said no more, but fell into a gloomy silence that lasted until the train ran into Lancaster station.
They went to dine at the Royal Oak, and from that point Mr. Force telegraphed to Enderby Castle for a carriage to meet the party in the evening at Nethermost.
Then they took the afternoon train and started on their homeward journey.
The sun was setting when they ran into the little wayside station.