E. R. Punshon

“ The only other dwelling visible was Horn House, some distance across the moor on his left. This was a small modern building, at present in the occupation of Miss Egmont, a South African heiress. Saxby had seen her on different occasions rushing about the moors in the great white motor-car which she always drove herself. Whenever he had met her Saxby noticed that she always seemed to survey him with peculiarly marked disapproval. ”

“ I inquired at the hotel and they told me Lawrence Saxby was staying there. If you think you can treat any woman, especially one I am interested in, in that way, you are mistaken, Mr. Lawrence Saxby. You promised to marry her, and marry her you shall.”
“I shall not marry her,” said Saxby, pale and determined. “There is only one worse fate I can imagine.”
“What is that?” incautiously asked Miss Egmont.
“To marry you,” said Lawrence, with a shudder.
Miss Egmont raised her head very high and went very red. Then she started her car. ”

“ My dear young lady, I am really sorry that it is impossible for me to accept the high honour you so graciously offer me. Believe me, no one could appreciate better—if I may so far venture—the true kindness of your heart. ”

“ He decided that, for his part, he did not like big, fair women, and made up his mind that when he married he would choose a small, dark girl.
While he lingered admiring the view, he saw Miss Egmont's big car issue from Horn House. It seemed to be coming his way, and not being particularly anxious to meet the scowling regard of its young owner, Saxby mounted his bicycle and rode away. ”

“ This appeared to be a state of mind that required less of argument and more of dogmatism, the young man thought, so he said:
“Well, I won't marry you, and that's flat.”
“She says you will,” mused Elizabeth, “and it's fair astonishin' how she do manage to get her own way; it's very like she'll manage this, little as you may think it at present.” ”

“ Then it rushed on and came to a standstill at a little distance. Saxby, in a rage of fear and bewilderment, stood in the middle of the road, and shook his fist at his assailant, while he shouted:
“Mad, mad! You are quite mad, madam, quite——”
“No,” Miss Egmont answered, in level tones, “'I am not at all mad. I am only determined you shall marry.”
Saxby looked round him helplessly. He felt the situation was much too dangerous to trifle with, although it was absurd, unheard of, and so preposterous that he had an idea he was dreaming ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1956, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 67 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”