I don't believe it would be of any use. If
I should change my tactics she would only despise and laugh at me.
What's more, my very nature revolts at such a change. I can't and
won't make it. She shall learn to fear me. Women marry for fear as
well as love. This Scoville gives me a chance to teach her the first
lesson. He shall be sent by daylight to a Southern prison and that
will be the last of him. Lou shall learn, as all will find out, that
it's poor policy to thwart me. That major who interfered so
impudently in our affairs is dead."
"Oh, Madison!"
"You needn't look so. I had nothing to do with it. There were plenty
of Yankee bullets flying to-day. All I mean to say is that it will
prove serious for any one to cross my path. Fate is on the side of a
man who WILL have his own way, and Lou will discover this fact
sooner or later."
Poor Mrs. Whately was compelled to rate these vaporings at their
true worth, seeing that between wine, anger and long-indulged
arrogance, he was in a melodramatic mood and beyond reason: so she
only said soothingly, "Please never let Louise know that I was aware
of Scoville's captivity.
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