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.
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