“No, no, my precious darling, it shall not be! You shall not sacrifice your life and happiness for such an old and worthless thing as I. You shall defy him at the very altar.”
Then turning with a sort of scornful majesty to Ralph, she added:
“You can have my life and welcome, but you must spare this poor stricken child. She shall never be your wife!”
“And do you think, madam, she would be allowed to escape me, even if your life were sacrificed? No, I want her, not you. I have sworn that mine she shall be, and nothing can turn me aside from the accomplishment of my oath. So prepare yourselves to carry out gracefully the plan for this evening.”
With these heartless words Ralph Moulton turned and disappeared from the room.
“Oh, merciful Father! sustain me in this trying hour,” moaned the fainting girl, as she sank unconscious to the floor.
For hours she lay in this blessed stupor, and only revived to be arrayed for her bridal.
CHAPTER XXVI.
ENID CHICHESTER.
As Ralph withdrew from the presence of those heart-broken women, and was swiftly passing along the narrow corridor to his own apartment, he ran against a fairy form.
She was half enveloped in a cloud of gauzy, spotless lace and dainty ribbons, which she carried in her arms.