“Six,” she answered faintly.
“The families of the poor,” he thought.
“Well, you take this from me,” he insisted, drawing a purse from his coat. “And I’ll see you very soon again. There’s no escape, sweet.”
“No, no,” she protested. “I won’t. I don’t need it. No, you mustn’t ask me.”
He insisted further, but she was firm, and finally he put the money away.
“One thing is sure, Jennie, you’re not going to escape me,” he said soberly. “You’ll have to come to me eventually. Don’t you know you will? Your own attitude shows that. I’m not going to leave you alone.”
“Oh, if you knew the trouble you’re causing me.”
“I’m not causing you any real trouble, am I?” he asked. “Surely not.”
“Yes. I can never do what you want.”
“You will! You will!” he exclaimed eagerly, the bare thought of this prize escaping him heightening his passion. “You’ll come to me.” And he drew her close in spite of all her protests.