Part 62 (1/2)
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.
For a few moments Kate Wilton was pa.s.sive in Garstang's arms. The suddenness of the act--the surprise, stunned her, and his words seemed so impossible that she could not believe her hearing. Then horror and revulsion came; she knew it was the truth, and like a flash it dawned upon her that all that had gone before, the chivalrous behaviour, the benevolence and paternal tenderness, were the clever acting of an unscrupulous man--the outcome of plans and schemes, and for what? To obtain possession of the great fortune by which she felt more than ever that she was cursed.
With a faint cry of horror she thrust him back with both hands upon his breast, and struggled wildly to escape from his embrace.
But the effort was vain; he clasped her tightly once again, in spite of her efforts, and covered her face, her neck, her hair, with his kisses.
”Silly, timid little bird!” he whispered, as he held her there, horrified and panting; ”what ails you? The first kisses, of course.
There, don't be so foolish, my darling child; they are the kisses of him who loves you, and who is going to make you his wife. Come, have I not been tender and patient, and all that you could wish, and is not this an easy solution of the difficulties by which you are surrounded?”
”Mr Garstang, loose me, I insist!” she cried. ”How dare you treat me so!”
”I have told you, my beautiful darling. Come, come, be sensible; surely the love of one who has wors.h.i.+pped you from the first time he met you is not a thing to horrify you. Am I so old and repulsive, that you should go on like this? Only a few hours ago you were pressing my hands, holding your face to mine for my kisses; while now that I declare myself you begin struggling like a newly-captured bird. Why, Kate, my darling, I am talking to you like a poetic lover in a sentimental play. Really, dry lawyer as I am, I did not know that I could rise to such a flow of eloquence. Yes, pet, and you are acting too. There, that is enough for appearances, and there is no one to see, so let's behave like two sensible matter-of-fact people. Come and sit down here.”
”I wish to go--at once,” she cried, striving hard to be firm, feeling as she did that everything, in her hopeless state, depended upon herself.
”We'll talk about that quietly, when you have seated yourself. No--you will not?” he cried playfully. ”Then you force me to show you that you must,” and raising her in his arms, he bore her quickly to the couch, and sat beside her, pinioning her firmly in his grasp.
”There,” he said, ”man is the stronger in muscles, and woman must obey; but woman is stronger in the silken bonds with which she can hold man, and then he obeys.”
She sat there panting heavily, ceasing her struggles, as she tried to think out her course of action, for she shrank from shrieking aloud for help, and exposing her position to the two women in the house.
”That's better,” he said; ”now you are behaving sensibly. Don't pretend to be afraid of me. Now listen--There, sit still; you cannot get away.
If you cry out not a sound could reach the servants, for I have sent them to bed; and if a dozen men stood here and shouted together their voices could not be heard through curtains, shutters, and double windows. There, I am not telling you this to frighten you, only to show you your position.”
She turned and gazed at him wildly, and then dragged her eyes away in despair as he said, caressingly.
”How beautiful you are, Kate! That warm colour makes you more attractive than ever, and tells me that all this is but a timid girl's natural holding back from the embraces of the man whom she has enslaved.
There is no ghastly pallor, your lips are not white, and you do not turn faint, but are strong and brave in your resistance; so now let's talk sense, little wifie. You fancy I have been drinking; well, I have had a gla.s.s or two more than usual, but I am not as you think, only calm and quiet and ready to talk to you about what you wished.”
”Another time--to-morrow. Mr Garstang, I beg of you; pray let me go to my own room now.”
”To try the front door on the way, and seek to do some foolish thing?
There, you see I can read your thoughts, my darling. So far from having exceeded, I am too sensible for mat; but you could not get out of the house, for the door is locked, and I have the key here. There; to begin; you would like to leave here to-night?”
”Yes, yes, Mr Garstang; pray let me go.”
”Where? You would wander about the streets, a prey to the first ruffian who meets you. To appeal to the police, who would not believe your story; and even if they did, where would you go? To-morrow back to Northwood, to be robbed of your fortune; to go straight to that n.o.ble cousin's arms. No, no, that would not do, dear. Now, let's look the position in the face. I am double your age, my child. Well, granted; but surely I am not such a repellent monster that you need look at me like that I love you, my pretty one, and I am going to marry you at once. As my wife, you will be free from all persecution by your uncle.
He will try to make difficulties, and refuse to sign papers, and do plenty of absurd things; but I have him completely under my thumb, and once you are my wife I can force him to give up all control of you and yours.”
”To-morrow--to-morrow,” she said, pleadingly, as she felt how hopeless it was to struggle. ”I am sick and faint, Mr Garstang; pray, pray let me go to my room now.”
”Not yet,” he said playfully, and without relaxing his grasp; ”there is a deal more to say. You have to make me plenty of promises, that you will act sensibly; and I want these promises, not from fear, but because you love me, dear. Silent? Well, I must tell you a little more. I made up my mind to this, my child, when I came to you that night. 'I'll marry her,' I said; 'it will solve all the difficulties and make her the happiest life.'”
”No, no, it is impossible, Mr Garstang,” she cried. ”There, you have said enough now. You must--you shall let me go. Is this your conduct towards the helpless girl who trusted you?”
”Yes,” he said laughingly, ”it is my conduct towards the helpless girl who trusted me; and it is the right treatment of one who cannot help herself.”