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Show CifAPTER XXV. 1\IARK 1\IARI . IN. AnouT senset on the second day of her imprisonment, tho chamber in \vhich l\liss :F'airfaix \vas detained, \vas again entered by Albert Paln1er. She arose and stood as she always did ·while he \V:ts in the t'OOin, thus silently protesting against his intrusion. lie ad vanccd, audres ing her in \VOrds of ordinary salutation, \vith an air of deferential courtesy. Receiving no response, he proceeded to speak in a strain of sentiment, \\rhich becan1e \Varn1cr as he \Vent on, ::t.n <1, finaJ~y, :ess dclic:1te. vVith son1e aruor of expresSIOn on Jus lips and in his eyes, he n1oved towards her, \vith n.n arn1 extended, as if he \vould lay his hand upon her. Stepping backward she \Vaveu him off, and said, quietly, but decisively, "no nearer, sir." lie paused, clasped his hands together, and spoke iu an obsequious tone : .. "Ah, 1ny dear Julia, do not continuo to trample on n1y love." ".lHr. Pahner," she reiJliecl "I bco· that this insu1 t- • ' b 1ng mockery shall cease." " Then yon dootn your father to a dungeon~" he asked, \Vith a sneer. "~Iy dnty to n1y father, sir, is not a subject for discussion bet,veen you anu me. u ~e it not to barb your taunts. I am now proof against th01n. I kno'v you no\v and I despise you, I detest you, I defy you." lie turned to the cluunber door and loeked it. Ilo UOEDUCR. 271 • then 1·eturncd to,varc1s Julia, his eyes gbrin()" with . bl . , n 0 1gno c passions. . :>y IIeavcn," he cried, "yott shall consent to marnage or prate no more of honor." She retired before him, but springing forward, be a~temptecl to seize her. Sh.e eluded l1is graRp by stcpp1ng up on the becl Retreating to the opposite side of it, \vhich 'vas against a wall, she stoocl there in a posture of defiance, pointing a pistol at Palmer. Ilcr n1ove1nents, as \veil as his, were so rapiu that J1is f:we ahnost touched the \Veapou before l1e was aware that she helcl it. Seeing it then, he started back with a gc ture of fear, and stood in a shrinking attitude, gazing at the pi~tol. While they thus confronted each other, they hearu a light rap on the door, and understood that ~Irs. Palmer desired admittance. lie slowly retr~'ltecl to the door ancl openecl it. As he retired, Julia descend eel fi·on1 the bed. She haclre:torctl the little \\'Capon to her poc:ket ·when JHrs. Palmer cutercll, ancl her son, scowling at Julia, ,,rent out. The snutll pi tol which Julia had held in her hancl, rather a toy than a " ·capon, '"'as one which her father had procured for her after she haJ been oudangcrccl by negroes, as related in the preceding pages. lie gave her some lessons in the usc of it, so that she 1night be .able to defend hcrs.clf in sudden peril, such as the recent events and the condition of the country led hi1n to apprchenCL She seldom carried it, however, and it 'vas by chance that, " rhon she was preparing to flee fron1 the 1nansion of H.oebuck, she put on .a gown, in the pocket .of \Vhich the pistol had l>een left. In the exciten1ents of that night she did not observe it, Lut t:>he diseovereJ i:L the next day. She renlctnLeretl it \V hen Paln1er uttCiupted to seize her, an<l instantly availed herself of it, as we have seen, for her defence. |