The day slowly dragged by as Katie, half-crazed, sat on the low stool in the cabin, and pondered on her cruel fate. Hope seemed a mockery—she knew she was in the power of a most unprincipled villain, one who would halt at no deed, however violent, to gain an end.
Mere death she did not fear—it was the thought that it would nearly craze and ruin her lover, and would bow her father to a premature grave, that gave her anguish.
The most harrowing and painful thoughts harassed her, and she was almost unconscious when the door softly opened, and Downing came softly in.
He barred the door behind him, and folding his arms, regarded her steadily for a moment. He saw she was distressed and bowed by grief, and that she was very faint from the lack of nourishment, which she had not taken for nearly twenty-four hours. Though disliking to see her in this condition (as a man would dislike to see his pet dog lean and gaunt) he still felt a thrill of savage joy. Cruelty was his predominating trait.
“Miss Jeffries,” he said, softly.
She looked up in surprise, as she had not heard him enter. Then seeing who it was she grew pale and looked defiant.
“You will not answer?” he asked, in well assumed mournful reproach. “Miss Jeffries, I have come to give you another opportunity of ridding yourself of this hard life. I did say I would never return; but my ardent love for you has outweighed all feelings of anger or pique. Say, my dear Miss Jeffries, will you make yourself and me happy?”
She flashed on him a glance of exquisite scorn, then burst into wild weeping. He approached, and sinking down on his couch began to pluck a straw to pieces, idly.
“It’s all the same to me,” he said, indifferently, “whether you cry or laugh—at least in your present mood and state. Were you, however, my wife, it would grieve me to see you distressed. I love you ardently, devotedly; but conscious of my small chance of winning your affection in a fair way, I quell my good and better feelings and resort to foul ones. I am frank, you see.”
She turned her back upon him, and her pale face wore an expression of deep loathing.