CHAPTER TEN“No!”
There was a general murmur of disapproval, but Charles’s cry could be heard over all the rest.
“No!” he said again. “I forbid it.”
“You have no power to forbid it,” retorted John. “Mind your own business, Charles.”
“Cliona,” he tried to take hold of her, “for pity’s sake stop this. You cannot do it. Just stop and think what you could do to us?”
“Us?” she whispered so that only he could hear. “Is there such a thing?”
“I will do anything you want,” Charles cried. “I’ll give in.”
“I don’t want you to give in. I wanted you to come to me willingly and with a full heart. But you did not want to do that. Now I insist on my right to bestow my hand where I please.”
With horror he realised that she was implacable. This girl who looked so frail had an inner core of steel. She
