I had been listening in a dull, stunned way to this speech, but at his last words an hysterical passion of anger awoke within me.
“Marry you! Never! I would rather die,” I cried. “I know you at last for what you are, a wicked, plotting fiend!”
“Now, now! No nonsense,” said D’Arcy angrily. “Remember, Rosamund, you are very much in my power. You don’t know where you are, night is coming on, it is raining faster every minute, and you can’t find your way out of this place, or get a cab, without me. So give me a kind answer, and let me take you off to my sister’s. Come, child, don’t be foolish, we can’t stand here an hour, getting drenched. Be nice, I’ve loved you a long time, and been your most devoted slave, I am sure. Give me a kiss, and say you’ll come.”
“Never! Keep off! How dare you?” I cried, trembling with mingled fear and anger.
“You needn’t be so very particular. I’ll be bound you’ve kissed Felix hundreds of times.”
“Felix! Yes. But you—you!!” Words failed me. I could find none that would express my detestation of him.
He pressed closer, as if determined to kiss me. Then my passion grew beyond my control. I seized the cane he was holding in his hand, and struck him smartly across the face with it. Then I flung the hateful thing from me amidst the trees.
“There!” I cried. “That is to show you how I loathe and detest you now. Go and pick up your cane, the cane you used to help you in your plotting. You have wrecked my life. You have ruined Felix’s. You have persuaded me to deceive, and dragged me down to misery. Go, and never let me see your wicked face again.”
D’Arcy made for an instant as if he were going to strike me in return, but he restrained himself. “All right,” he said, in a voice trembling with suppressed rage. “All right, young lady. You have given me my congé, and I’ll take it. I don’t feel so anxious to make you my wife as I did a moment ago. I’d best not saddle myself with a vixen. I’ll leave you, to find your way back to the castle. I hope you will enjoy yourself when you get there.”
Then, without another word, he strode away and left me alone in that strange place in the rain.