I'd rather that it went unbaptized to its grave than marked with your cross of blood." He waved his hand.
"There is another matter, or rather two, of which I must speak to you, my daughter.

When do you take your first vows ?" "We will talk of it after my child is born.

'Tis a child of sin, you say, and I am unrepentant, a wicked woman not fit to take a holy vow, to which, moreover, you cannot force me," she replied, with bitter sarcasm.
Again he waved his hand, for the she-wolf showed her teeth.
"The second matter is," he went on, "that I need your signature to a writing.

It is nothing but a form, and one I fear you cannot read, nor in faith can I," and with a somewhat doubtful smile he drew out a crabbed indenture and spread it before her on the table.
"What ?" she laughed, brushing aside the parchment.

"Have you remembered that yesterday I came of age, and am, therefore, no more your ward, if such I ever was?
You should have sold my inheritance more swiftly, for now the title you can give is rotten as last year's apples, and I'll sign nothing.