The latter she would avoid; it was enough that Storri held her father at his horrid mercy.

As against the setting forth in detail of Storri's cruel power she instinctively closed her ears as she would have shut her eyes against a fearsome sight.

Dorothy had never a question; and when Mr.Harley was done she seemed simply to bow to the will of events too strong for her to cope with.
"But you must never ask me to marry that man!" cried Dorothy.

There went a tremor through her words that marked how deep of root was the feeling that prompted them.

"I couldn't, wouldn't marry him! Before that, I would die--yes, and die again! You must not ask it!" and she lifted up her face, all wrung with pain and anxious terror.
"I shall never ask it!" declared Mr.Harley; and he spoke stoutly, for the worst was over and his heart was coming back.