"But I'm half crazed with my
own troubles. You must come into the house; the best I have is
yours. You shall be as much my guest as I can make you, and--
perhaps you will help me to escape." "Escape?" The little man
smiled mournfully. "You are watched and guarded, and so am I. Even
if you got away from here, what then? You can't imagine the
condition of the country."
"I won't marry him!" Alaire cried, with a shudder. "I won't!"
"He can't very well force you to do so. But remember, these are
war times; the man is a fiend, and he puts no restraint upon his
desires. If he is madly bent on having you, how can you prevent
it? In normal times he would not dare injure one so prominent as
you, but now--" Father O'Malley lifted his hands. "I only wonder
that he suggests a lawful marriage. Suppose you refuse? Will he
not sacrifice you to his passions? He has done worse things."
After a moment's consideration he said: "Of course it is possible
that I misjudge him. Anyhow, if you desire me to do so I will
refuse to perform the ceremony. But--I'm afraid it will just mean
ruin for both of us."
"Surely he wouldn't harm you?"
The Father shrugged.
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