“Very well,” said he. “Your answer is no.”
“My answer is no, so help me God.”
“Very well,” said he, between his teeth. “Then we open a new chapter.”
“What chapter is that?”
“It is that of compulsion. That of solicitation is closed.”
“You cannot, whilst I have my senses. What!” She saw that he had a great riding-whip in his hand. “What—the old story again! You will strike me?”
“No—not you. I will lash you into submission—through Jamie.”
She uttered a cry, dropped the lavender, that became scattered before her, and held up her hands in mute entreaty.
“I owe him chastisement. I have owed it him for many a day—and to-day above all—as a go-between.”
Judith could not speak. She remained as one frozen—in one attitude, in one spot, speechless. She could not stir, she could not utter a word of entreaty, as Coppinger left the room.