And for all his mockery and outward
courage (unfeigned), this was something he was consummately unwilling
to do.
Now he was cornered. And the cornered beast is most to be feared.
Twenty-Two
Several hours later a man-servant came to the women's quarters to
announce:
"The Lord Purceville," (his exact words), "requests a private
interview with his daughter."
Whatever their desired affect, upon hearing these words something
shook in Mary's heart, as she felt again the sudden pang of the
orphan. Because she realized in that moment that this simple phrase,
`his daughter', had never once been applied to her. For an instant the
tears started in her eyes; and for all her fear of him, her one desire
was to run and fall weeping in his arms.
But then she remembered all that her mother had told her. She
remembered, too, the life of empty hatred to which he had driven her,
at the cost of all that was gentle and giving inside her. And the way
he had burned her very corpse.
The tears stopped. A look of such implacable will came into her eyes
that the widow Scott, who had been plaiting her hair in preparation,
took a step back in dismay.
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