"I have you in my power. I shall ask your consent. If you grant it we shall enter upon married life as a pair of lovers should. If you refuse—I shall be the master, but you will be the wife."
Molly laughed. "You think that I am afraid? Very well, sir. If you persist you shall have a lesson in love-making that will last your lifetime."
"Everything is fair in love. Come, madam, you will please to get out of the chair."
"What a villain is this!" said Molly. "He is in love with my fortune and he pretends it is my person. He thinks to steal my fortune when he runs away with me. You are a highwayman, Mr. Rising; a common thief and a common robber. You shall be hanged outside Norwich Gaol."
Tom Rising swore a great oath, calling, in his blasphemous way, upon the Lord to inflict dire pains and penalties upon him if he should resign the lovely object of his affection now in his possession. You have heard that he had the reputation of a reckless dare devil who stuck at nothing, was daunted by nothing, and was like a bulldog for his tenacity.
"Understand, madam," he concluded this declaration, "I am resolved to marry you. Resolved. Bear that in mind."
"And I, sir, am resolved that I will not marry you. Resolved. Bear that in mind."
"Never yet did I resolve upon anything but I had it. No; never yet."
"Mr. Rising, you think you have me in your power. You shall see. Once more I ask you, as a gentleman, to send me back. Remember I have many friends. The whole town, high and low, will be presently out after me. scouring the country."
"In an hour you will be at Wootton. The parson hath promised to await us there. You will be my wife in one short hour's time."