"No. I told him that if he left you alone I would hold my tongue."
The girl turned on him angrily. "And what right have you to say such a thing about me?" she demanded vehemently. "I am not engaged to you. I never shall be!"
"Oh, yes, you will," he replied, coming closer and looking into her white face with angry eyes. "You will be my wife, now that this villain is out of the way."
"Never! And Mr. Lancaster is not a villain."
"He is. He killed your brother. You cannot love the murderer of your brother."
"Who told you that I loved Mr. Lancaster?"
"My own heart. Bah! Do you think I can be deceived? Did I not see the looks which passed between you?"
Mildred looked on him with ineffable contempt. "You mean, low, pitiful coward!" she said, while he winced at the ringing scorn in her voice. "You come here to insult me, because I will not marry you. Now, hear me. I _do_ love Frank."
"Ah!"--a low cry of rage escaped him--"you call him Frank."
"I do, for I love him. He has said nothing to me, and I do not even know if he returns my feeling."