"Ah, my little rebel,"—and he spoke in no pleased tone,—"have I to fight the battle all over?"
"You have taken an unfair, a dishonorable advantage of me," she said. "I am not used to such manners as you have shown. But I tell you this,—although you have forced me to become your wife, you cannot force my love."
"So it would seem," was his grim answer.
"Where do you purpose taking me?" she demanded, all her wits now well in hand.
"That shall be just as you say, sweet mistress," he replied, so good-naturedly as to surprise her.
"Then take me at once to my father's house," she ordered, with her natural imperiousness.
"So be it," he said. "And that will be on my own way, as it leads to Jameson's."
They rode in silence along the snowy road, whose whiteness and the stars made the only light, until they were within her father's grounds, and partially up the driveway.
Here she bade him let her down; and he dismounted silently and lifted her from the horse, detaining her as she stood alongside him, as in her heart she had hoped he would. And yet had he not done this, she would have gone her way without a word.
"Is there any doubt but that you will get within the house all safe?" he asked anxiously.