“No, sir. I will not.”
“Why not?”
“You would be angry.”
“Oho! Am I so ugly?”
“I prefer not to tell you what you are.”
“Well I’m sorry for that. Do you know, dear lady, I had almost made up my mind to ask you to be my wife.”
She did not start; the speech did not frighten her, for she had not the least thought that he meant anything more than simple badinage. So it was for a little time; by and by, as the man continued to eye her sharply, she asked herself—why had he done this thing?
Merciful heaven! Was it possible that he had seen her, and that he had conceived a passion to possess her for his own? The thought came to her like a bolt of thunder from a clear sky.
“Captain Tryon, for what purpose have you laid ruffianly hands upon me and dragged me away with yourself in this manner?”
“Wait for a little time, dear lady. I will explain by and by. We must land here.”