“Why not?” questioned Laurence, tilting her nose impertinently.
“Because in this benighted land we still believe in the wife’s being subject to her husband, or at least in her awaiting his advice before hazarding some such step as you propose. Basil is away, and in his absence and that of our other brothers, I am the Head of our family here; therefore I refuse to concur in such an action on your part, should you again attempt to bolt.”
“Then am I to understand that you propose to become my jailer in your brother’s stead?”
This time Tatiana laughed heartily. The idea of Basil in the character of his wife’s jailer amused her. “Don’t talk nonsense!” she said, still laughing. “You are overwrought, or you would see the absurdity of your contention. I did not come here of my own volition. You sent for me, and leaving my husband and my children at a second’s notice, I literally flew to your rescue. But if you expect me to become your accomplice in a dire piece of folly, you have reckoned without your—guest; that’s all there is about it!”
She gently beat her hands together to aid the circulation, drew back on her seat, leaned luxuriously among its cushions, and waited for an answer.
“Do you pretend to prevent me from leaving Tverna?” Laurence demanded, insolently. She was reaching a dangerous point of exasperation, and as she glanced at her sister-in-law her eyes were at once furtive and full of revolt.
“Oh! Yes!” the latter replied, unconcernedly. “Yes, decidedly, until Basil returns. Then it will be his affair to deal with the situation.”
“By what means do you intend to coerce me into remaining here, if I don’t wish to?” Laurence inquired, her nose high in the air.
“By extremely reasonable ones. To begin with, I propose to show you how ill-advised it would be for you to defy Basil’s authority.”
“Meaning what?”