creature and beyond help, and for the first time in her life she
felt the meaning of fear.

She saw what a frail and helpless thing she was; nothing about her
was great save her soul, and that was immeasurably vexed and
worried. She had just lived through a grief that had made her
generous, and now she gained her first knowledge of the man-animal's
gross selfishness.

"You are absolutely daft," she said. "You can't force me to marry
you."

"I ain't going to force you; you'll do it willingly."

"I'll die first. I'll call the first man we see--I'll tell Father
Barnum, and he'll have you run out of the country--it would only
take a word from me."

"If you haven't changed your mind when we get to his place, I'll run
through without stopping; but there isn't another priest between
there and St. Mike's, and by the time we get to the mouth of the
river, I guess you'll say yes to most anything. However, I'd rather
marry you at Holy Cross if you'll consent, and I'm pretty sure you
will--when you think it over."

"We won't discuss it."

"You don't understand yet," he continued, slowly. "What will people
say when they know you ran away with me."