Denis stared.
“Do you think I am going to have my little pet here die of a broken heart, for the sake of you, you ugly young scoundrel? No! you sha’n’t go. Here: you stop and comfort Very, and I’ll go over to the Manor and bring my Lord Pinemount to his knees.”
“Doctor Salado!” cried Denis excitedly. “No, no: it is impossible. You must not go. You would be insulted.”
“Then I’ll insult him. Here, Very, my pretty: I’m not to let this boy go, am I?”
For answer the girl flung herself upon Denis’ breast, and clung there sobbing.
“This—this is too hard, sir!” cried Denis passionately.
“I am only man, after all.”
“Well, what do you want to be, boy? There, I don’t like you, and I don’t like your father; but I’m not going to let that stand in the way. I’m going over to the Manor to bring my lord to his knees.”
“You don’t know what you are saying,” cried Denis. “Veronica, he must not go.”
“I do know what I’m saying. Am I not Doctor Salado—a moral magician in my way? Did I not make him give up cutting down the trees?”