"But, Lily, reflect a moment. Would not a union with me be preferable to a lifetime of isolation and weariness here?"
"No," she answered, steadily. "Even the wretched existence I drag out here among the insane inhabitants of this place is far more welcome to me than the hated thought of a union with you!"
"I am sorry you think so," he answered, in tones of bitter sarcasm, "as, unfortunately, I do not propose to give you any choice in the matter."
"What do you mean?" she inquired, with a thrill of indefinable fear creeping coldly around her heart.
He saw the look of terror that came into her eyes, and, villain though he was, he hesitated before speaking out what was in his mind. He glanced at Dr. Pratt and took courage from the gleam of that villain's eyes.
"I mean," he answered, in a low voice of concentrated rage and bitterness, "that your obstinacy has at length worn out my patience, and I have determined to take my own way in the matter regardless of your will."
"What are you going to do?" she asked, in a quivering voice, while her young face blanched to a deathly hue.
"I am going to make you my wife without your consent," he answered, grimly.
"You cannot!" she answered, with dilating eyes and a trembling voice. "It would be no marriage if I refused to consent."
"So much the worse for you, then," he answered, laughing harshly, "for the marriage ceremony shall certainly be read over us, and that will be entirely sufficient for me. I shall surely consider you my wife, then, and take you to my heart without further scruples."