Minny struggled wildly, but his hold was firm.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, as with a violent effort she wrenched her wrist from his grasp, "for Heaven's sake, Bernard, remember what is due to your absent wife, what belongs to yourself, what in duty bound you owe to me. Think of your innocent babe, and be a man once more. I beg you leave me to myself."
"Nonsense, girl; haven't I a right here? Didn't I marry you once, and doesn't that make my presence here proper and right? Have you forgotten that?"
"No, never! but you forgot it. You made the bonds, which united us, illegal, and took to your heart another bride. You have forgotten this, too, it would seem, or you would not thus insult me. I am no more to you now than if those days had never been."
"Zounds! my pretty one, we think differently on that score," said Wilkins, throwing his arms about her slender waist.
"Let go your hold this instant!" cried Minny, "or I will shriek for help, and expose you to the neighborhood."
"Shriek as loud as you choose," returned the now determined man; "who, do you suppose, will hear? Scream, and let me see how well you can do it up."
Still struggling in his grasp, Minny flung herself upon her knees before him, and clasped her hands upon her breast.
"Oh, Bernard, have mercy!"