“I want to see you win, Ratcliff; but show her you assume there’s no if in the case, and you repel and alienate her.”
“I don’t know that. Most women like a man the better for being truly, as well as nominally, the lord and master. The more imperious he is, the more readily and tenaciously they cling to him. I don’t believe in letting a woman suppose that she can seize the reins when she pleases.”
The lawyer shrugged his shoulders, then replied: “The tyrant is hated by every person of sense, whether man or woman. I grant you there are many women who haven’t much sense. But this little lady of yours is the last in the world on whom you can safely try the experiment of compulsion. Take my word for it, the true course is to let her suppose she is free to act. You must rule her by not seeming to rule.”
“Well, let me see the girl, and I can judge better then as to the fit policy. I’ve encountered women before in my day. You don’t speak to a novice in woman-taming. I never met but one yet who ventured to hold out against me,—and she got the worst of it, I reckon.” And a grim smile passed over Ratcliff’s face as he thought of Estelle.
“You will find the young lady in the room corresponding with this, on the third story,” said the lawyer. “The door is locked, but the key is on the outside. Please consider that my supervision ends here. I leave the servants in the house subject to your command. The Sister Agatha in immediate attendance is a pious fool, who believes her charge is insane. She will obey you implicitly. Sam will attend to the marketing. My own affairs now claim my attention. I’ve suffered largely from their neglect during your absence. Be careful not to be seen coming in or going out of this house. I have used extreme precautions, and have thus far baffled those who would help the young woman to escape.”
“I shall not be less vigilant,” replied Ratcliff. “I accept the keys and the responsibility. Good by. I go to let the young woman know that her master has returned.”
Ratcliff seized his hat and passed out of the room up-stairs as fast as his somewhat pursy habit of body would allow.
“There goes a man who puts his hat on the head of a fool,” muttered the old lawyer. “Confound him! If he weren’t so deep in my books, I would leave him to his own destruction, and join the enemy. I’m not sure this wouldn’t be the best policy as it is.”
Thus venting his anger in soliloquy Mr. Semmes quitted the house, and walked in meditative mood to his office.