“We will see, then,” he said, with something of aroused indignation, “whose will is the stronger, or, rather, who has the advantage in this contest.  You seem to forget your situation at the present moment, and that you are entirely and completely in my power.”

“I forgot nothing, sir:  I am in the hands of One, before whom you are as a grasshopper; and His justice does not always slumber.”

“Turning parson again!  It is all very well; but just now that high authority seems to be engaged in some one else’s behalf, and, much to my satisfaction, has left you to take care of yourself.  I, on the contrary, having an immediate interest in your welfare, have undertaken to care for you; and inasmuch as your very powerful ally has given you into my hands, I esteem it my interest and privilege to find a home and provide for you.”

These words of derision were spoken with mock politeness, and the manner of the speaker indicated that much of his wonted assurance had returned.

“May that God you impiously defy, whose attributes you daringly and deridingly blaspheme, let fall upon your guilty head the just punishment for your crimes; I ask for you no greater curse—­Heaven knows that will be dreadful enough!”

“There, that will do!  We have had enough preaching for one day; let us now proceed to business.  I was just remarking how completely you are in my power, and a glance at your situation will at once reveal to you the fact that I have you where I can compel a compliance with my wishes; but I do not propose to use force, unless compelled to do so by your own obstinacy and willfulness.  I have already, on former occasions, spoken to you of my deep and unquenchable love for you, and it is not my purpose to repeat the declarations made at those several interviews farther than to say, that my feelings toward you remain unchanged; I regard you too highly to permit another to wed you; I may be selfish, but that is a natural result of love; no one ever loved but he desired to possess the object of his affection.  In this respect I do not claim for myself any superior excellence; my love is human in kind, it only differs from others by being stronger in degree; and the deeper the love, the more ardent the desire to win the beloved.  This is my only apology for bringing you here; and, as it is a very flattering one, I hope you will accept it, and pardon the act to the performance of which I was irresistibly driven by this strongest passion of the human heart.”

Seeing the direction he was giving the conversation, Eveline took up her book and commenced reading.  Duffel was exceedingly vexed, but this time he was not to be balked in his designs, and so took the book from her hands, saying as he did so.

“I beg pardon, but now I must and will be heard.  I have already informed you of your father’s feelings toward yourself and Charles Hadley:  I have now another piece of intelligence to communicate to you; and that is, that your parent gave you to me in case I should be able, by any means, to save you from a union with Hadley.”