You could not be more obnoxious were you black as Erebus.

I have no farther words to pass upon the past or the present, but something to say of the future.

You hold in your hands a letter--a love-letter, I am sure--a declaration, as I fear--from my nephew, Mr.
Surrey.

You will oblige me by at once sitting down, writing a peremptory and unqualified refusal to his proposal, if he has made you one,--a refusal that will admit of no hope and no double interpretation,--and give it into my keeping before I leave this room.' "When I first alluded to Willie's letter she had crimsoned, but before I closed she was so white I should have thought her fainting, but for the fire in her eyes.

However, she spoke up clear enough when she said, 'And what, madam, if I deny your right to dictate any action whatever to me, however insignificant, and utterly refuse to obey your command ?' "'At your peril do so,' I exclaimed.