'Come, madam!' he spoke out, 'this farce with your father has, in my
opinion, gone on long enough. Just make no more ado, and step
downstairs with us.'
She gave herself an intractable little twist, and did not reply.
'By the Lord Harry, Laura, I won't stand this!' he said angrily.
'Come, get on your things before I come and compel you. There is a
kind of compulsion to which this talk is child's play. Come, madam-
-instantly, I say!'
The old nobleman turned to his nephew and said mildly: 'Leave me to
insist, James. It doesn't become you. I can speak to her sharply
enough, if I choose.'
James, however, did not heed his uncle, and went on to the
troublesome young woman: 'You say you don't want to come, indeed!
A pretty story to tell me, that! Come, march out of the room at
once, and leave that hulking fellow for me to deal with afterward.
Get on quickly--come!' and he advanced toward her as if to pull her
by the hand.
'Nay, nay,' expostulated Laura's father, much surprised at his
nephew's sudden demeanour. 'You take too much upon yourself. Leave
her to me.'
'I won't leave her to you any longer!'
'You have no right, James, to address either me or her in this way;
so just hold your tongue. Come, my dear.'
'I have every right!' insisted James.
'How do you make that out?'
'I have the right of a husband.'
'Whose husband?'
'Hers.'
'What?'
'She's my wife.
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