Amy heard and raised herself from the bed, stood upright and faced the
comer. There was just light enough to see that it was the father. The
horrid idea shot through her mind that it was his custom to come thus to
his son's room in the night and lash him. She roused every fevered nerve
to do battle with the strong man for his son. Clenching her little hands
hard, she stood like a small David between the bed and the coming
Goliath.
"Get out of this," he said, with the sternness of wrath suppressed.
"I came to take him away," said Amy, who had begun to tremble from head
to foot. "It is my business to take care of him."
"Your business to take care of him from his own"--he hesitated, then
said--"mother?" which certainly was the more fitting word.
"If," answered Amy, "a man is to leave father and mother and cleave to
his wife, it's the least thing the wife can do to take care of him from
his father!"
Mr. Raymount stood confounded: what could the hussey mean? Was she going
to pretend she was married to him? Indignation and rage began to rise
afresh; but if he gave way what might he not be guilty of a second time!
A rush of shame choked the words that crowded to his lips; and with the
self-restraint came wholesome doubt: was it possible he had married her?
Was it not possible? Would it not be just worthy of him to have done so
and never told one of his family! At least there need be nothing
incredible in it! This girl--yes--plainly she had both cunning and
fascination enough to make him not only run after her but marry her! How
was he to come at the truth of the thing? The coward would not have the
courage to contradict her, but he would know if he were lying!
"Do you mean to tell me," he said, "that he has married you--without a
word to his own father or mother?"
Then out at last spoke Cornelius, rising on his elbow in the bed:
"Yes, father," he said, with slow determination, "I have married her.
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