"By what right does Count L'Estrange commit this outrage!" began
Leoline, almost as imperiously as Miranda herself, and making use of her
tongue, like a true woman, the very first moment it was at her disposal.
"How dare he carry me off in this atrocious way? Whoever you are, sir,
if you have the spirit of a man, you will bring me directly back to my
own house."
"I am very sorry, lady, but I have received orders that must be obeyed!
You must come with me, but you need fear nothing; you will be an safe
and secure as in your own home."
"Secure enough, no doubt!" paid Leoline, bitterly. "I never did like
Count L'Estrange, but I never knew he was a coward and a villain till
now!"
Her companion made no reply to this forcible address, and there was a
moment's indignant silence on Leoline's part, broken only by the dip of
the oars, and the rippling of the water. Then, "Will you not tell me, at least, where you are taking me to?" haughtily
demanded Leoline.
"Lady, I cannot! It was to prevent you knowing, that you have been
blindfolded."
"Oh! your master has a faithful servant, I see! How long am I to be kept
a prisoner?"
"I do not know."
"Where is Count L'Estrange?"
"I cannot tell."
"Where am I to see him?"
"I cannot say."
"Ha!" said Leoline, with infinite contempt, and turning her back upon
him she relapsed into gloomy silence. It had all been so sudden, and had
taken her so much by surprise, that she had not had time to think of the
consequences until now. But now they came upon her with a rush, and with
dismal distinctness; and most distinct among all was, what would Sir
Norman say! Of course, with all a lover's impatience, he would be at
his post by sunrise, would come to look for his bride, and find himself
sold! By that time she would be far enough away, perhaps a melancholy
corpse (and at this dreary passage in her meditations, Leoline sighed
profoundly), and he would never know what had become of her, or how much
and how long she had loved him. And this hateful Count L'Estrange, what
did he intend to do with her? Perhaps go so far as to make her marry
him, and imprison her with the rest of his wives; for Leoline was
prepared to think the very worst of the count, and had not the slightest
doubt that he already had a harem full of abducted wives, somewhere. But
no--he never could do that, he might do what he liked with weaker minds,
but she never would be a bride of his while the plague or poison was to
be had in London. And with this invincible determination rooted fixedly,
not to say obstinately, in her mind, she was nearly pitched overboard
by the boat suddenly landing at some unexpected place. A little natural
scream of terror was repressed on her lips by a hand being placed over
them, and the determined but perfectly respectful tones of the person
beside her speaking.