As I do here—­when I cannot help it.

Very well, Madam—­Will you be so good as to let me know what you intend by your promise to make yourself easy.

To endeavour, Sir, to make myself easy—­were the words——­

Till you saw what next Thursday would produce?

Ask me no questions that may ensnare me.  I am too sincere for the company I am in.

Let me ask you, Madam, What meant you, when you said, ’that, were it not a sin, you would die before you gave me that assurance?’

She was indignantly silent.

You thought, Madam, you had given me room to hope your pardon by it?

When I think I ought to answer you with patience I will speak.

Do you think yourself in my power, Madam?

If I were not—­And there she stopt——­

Dearest creature, speak out—­I beseech you, dearest creature, speak out ——­

She was silent; her charming face all in a glow.

Have you, Madam, any reliance upon my honour?

Still silent.

You hate me, Madam!  You despise me more than you do the most odious of
God’s creatures!

You ought to despise me, if I did not.

You say, Madam, you are in a bad house.  You have no reliance upon my honour—­you believe you cannot avoid me——­

She arose.  I beseech you, let me withdraw.

I snatched her hand, rising, and pressed it first to my lips, and then to my heart, in wild disorder.  She might have felt the bounding mischief ready to burst its bars—­You shall go—­to your own apartment, if you please—­But, by the great God of Heaven, I will accompany you thither!

She trembled—­Pray, pray, Mr. Lovelace, don’t terrify me so!

Be seated, Madam!  I beseech you, be seated!——­

I will sit down——­

Do then—­All my soul is in my eyes, and my heart’s blood throbbing at my fingers’ ends.

I will—­I will—­You hurt me—­Pray, Mr. Lovelace, don’t—­don’t frighten me so—­And down she sat, trembling; my hand still grasping her’s.

I hung over her throbbing bosom, and putting my other arm round her waist —­And you say, you hate me, Madam—­and you say, you despise me—­and you say, you promise me nothing——­

Yes, yes, I did promise you—­let me not be held down thus—­you see I sat down when you bid me—­Why [struggling] need you hold me down thus?—­I did promise to endeavour to be easy till Thursday was over!  But you won’t let me!—­How can I be easy?—­Pray, let me not be thus terrified.

And what, Madam, meant you by your promise?  Did you mean any thing in my favour?—­You designed that I should, at that time, think you did.  Did you mean any thing in my favour, Madam?—­Did you intend that I should think you did?

Let go my hand, Sir—­Take away your arm from about me, [struggling, yet trembling,]—­Why do you gaze upon me so?

Answer me, Madam—­Did you mean any thing in my favour by your promise?