“What absurdity—it must come off! Let all be lost so honor is saved!”
“Then listen well to me, my father,” she said, in the long, deep, quiet tone of fixed determination; “this duel shall not take place!”
“Girl, you are mad. ‘Shall not?’”
“Shall not, my father!”
“What preposterous absurdity! Who will prevent it?”
“I will!”
“You! Come, that is best of all. How do you propose to do it, fair daughter?”
“I shall lay the whole matter before the nearest magistrate!”
“Poor girl, if I did not pity you so deeply, I should smile at your folly. Why, Margaret, the nearest magistrate is fifteen miles off. It is now eleven o’clock at night, and the proposed meeting takes place at five in the morning!”
“Then the more reason for haste, my father, to save you from a crime. I will order a boat and depart immediately,” said Margaret, going to the bell-rope and giving it a sudden peremptory pull.