Five minutes passed and Monica came down again, dressed for leaving the house.
'Where are you going ?' he asked, stepping out of the room to intercept her.
'It is nothing to you.

I am going away.' They subdued their voices, which might else have been audible the servants below.
'No, that you shall not!' He stepped forward to block the head of the stairs, but again Monica was too quick for him.

She fled down, and across the hall, and to the house-door.

Only there, as she was arrested by the difficulty of drawing back the two latches, did Widdowson overtake her.
'Make what scandal you like, you don't leave this house.' His tones were violent rather than resolute.

What could he do?
If Monica persisted, what means had he of confining her to the house--short of carrying her by main force to an upper room and there locking her in?
He knew that his courage would not sustain him through such a task as this.
'For scandal I care nothing,' was her reply.