spoke calmly.

"My happiness is complete," he said. "But remember, Mollie, it will be
no sham marriage, that you will be at liberty to break. A real clergyman
shall unite us, and you must promise me to make no appeal to his
sympathy--to make no attempt to converse with him. The attempt would
be quite useless, but you must promise."

"I promise," she said, haughtily; "and Mollie Dane keeps her word."

"And I keep mine! A week from the ceremony you go forth free, never to
be disturbed by me again. I love you, and I marry you for love and for
revenge. It sounds inconsistent, but it is true. Yet, my promise of
vengeance fulfilled, I shall retain you against your will no longer. I
will love you always, and you will be my wife--my wife, Mollie. Nothing
can ever alter that. I can always say hereafter, come what will, I have
been blessed!"

There was a tremor in the steady voice. He paused an instant, and then
went on:

"To-night the clergyman will be here. You will be ready? You will not
retract your word?"

"I never retract my word," Mollie said, abruptly turning her back upon
him. "I will not now. Go!"