“Oh, Louise!” cried Mrs. Whately, with scarlet face, “you place us in a horrible position.”

“Not in so horrible a one as I have been placed, and which I will not risk again, God is my witness.”

Major Brockton looked very grave, for he was acquainted with Whately’s recklessness.  The young man himself was simply speechless from rage, but Mr. Baron sprang up and said sternly, “You shall hear the whole truth, sir.  It can be quickly told, and then you can judge whether I, as guardian, am capable of countenancing anything unwarranted by the highest sense of honor.  This girl, my niece, has been virtually betrothed to her cousin since childhood.  I and her aunts deemed it wisest and safest, in view of dangers threatening the direst evils, that she should be married at once and escorted by my sister and her son to the house of a relative residing further south.  First and last, we were considering her interests, and above all, her safety.  That’s all.”

“No, it is not all,” cried Miss Lou, with a passionate pathos in her voice which touched the major’s heart.  “Would you, sir, force a girl, scarcely more than a child, to marry a man when you knew that she would rather die first?  Safety!  What would I care for safety after the worst had happened?  I will not be married like a slave girl.  I will not go away to Lieutenant Whately’s relations unless I am taken by force.”

“Great God, sir, that I should hear a Southern girl make such an appeal,” said Major Brockton, his face dark with indignation.  “We are justly proud of the respect we show to our women, and who more entitled to respect than this orphan girl, scarcely more than a child, as she says herself?  Good Heaven!  Whately, could you not have protected your cousin as you would your sister?  You say, sir” (to Mr. Baron) “that she was betrothed from childhood.  She didn’t betroth herself in childhood, did she?  Believe me, Miss Baron, no one has the power to force you into marriage, although your kindred should use all means, while you are so young, to prevent an unworthy alliance.”

“I had no thought of marriage, sir, until terrified by my cousin’s purpose and my family’s urgency but a day since.  I am willing to pay them all respect and deference if they will treat me as if I had some rights and feelings of my own.  My only wish is a little of the freedom which I feel a girl should enjoy when as old as I am.  I detest and fear the man whom my cousin has selected to take me away.  I do not fear a battle.  They all can tell you that I stood on the piazza when bullets were flying.  I only ask and plead that I may stay in such a home as I have.  My old mammy is here and—­”

“Well,” ejaculated the major, “have you no stronger tie than that of a slave mammy in your home?”

“I do not wish to be unjust, sir.  I try to think my aunt and uncle mean well by me, but they can’t seem to realize that I have any rights whatever.  As for my cousin, he has always had what he wanted, and now he wants me.”