“Mr. Isaac has ordered it. You and me are to break a coin together. Come, lass, I’ll be kind and easy with you. Give me a kiss, and let’s call it a bargain.”
Bess, flashing fierce scorn out of her eyes at Dan, turned on Isaac with rebellious and glowing face.
“I’ll not wed Dan,” she said. “No, I’ll have none of him. Press me if you dare.”
Grimshaw smiled at her, rubbed his hands together, and nudged Dan with his elbow. The giant made a step towards Bess, grinning through his beard. In an instant the girl had turned and darted towards the stairs, only to find the door closed and old Ursula leaning against it. Trapped, Bess drew herself up and looked at the old woman with wistful anger.
“Are you against me, too, mother?”
Ursula smiled painfully.
“Isaac’s word is law, girl,” she said.
“I’ll not marry Dan, no—I hate him. I’ll not be married against my will.”
She turned and faced old Grimshaw and his son, her eyes fierce as the eyes of some wild thing caught in a snare.
“Dan,” she cried, “will you marry me? Ha, I hate you; I hate your great, ugly face. Will you marry me, I say? You oaf, you great, black, hairy fool, I hate you. Be careful, all of you. I am not to be bought and sold.”