But could Sans Souci do this?  Had the frolicsome fairy sufficient integral strength and self-balance to resist the powerful influences gathering around her?

CHAPTER X.

A grim marriage.

As the decisive day approached, Jacquelina certainly acted like one distraught—­now in wild defiance, now in paleness and tears, and anon in fitful mirth, or taunting threats.  She rapidly lost flesh and color, and in hysterical laughter accounted for it by saying that she believed in her soul Grim was a spiritual vampire, who preyed upon her life!  She avoided him as much as she could.  And if sometimes, when she was about to escape from him, he would seize her wrist and detain her, she would suddenly lose her breath and turn so pale that in the fear of her fainting, he would release her.  So he got no opportunity to press his claims.

One morning, however—­it was about a week before Christmas—­she voluntarily sought his presence.  She entered the parlor where he sat alone.  Excitement had flushed her cheeks with a vivid crimson and lighted her eyes with sparkling fire—­she did not know that her beauty was enhanced a thousand fold—­she did not know that never in her life had her presence kindled such a flame in the heart of her lover as it did at that moment.  And if he restrained himself from going to meet her, it was the dread lest she should fade away from him as he had seen her do so often.  But she advanced and stood before him.

“Dr. Grimshaw!” she said, “I have come to make a last appeal to you!  I have come to beg, to supplicate you, for my sake, for honor, for truth and for mercy’s sake, yes! for heaven’s sake, to withdraw your pretensions to my poor hand.  For, sir, I do not and cannot like you!  I do not say but that you are far too good and wise, and every way too worthy for such a girl as I am—­and that you do me the very greatest honor by your preference, but still no one can account for tastes—­and, sir, I cannot like you—­pray, pardon me! indeed, I cannot help it.”

Although her words were so humble, her color was still heightened, and her eyes had a threatening, defiant sparkle in them, so contradictory, so piquant and fascinating in contrast with the little, fragile, graceful, helpless form, that his head was almost turned.  It was with difficulty he could keep from snatching the fluttering, half-defiant, half-frightened, bird-like creature to his bosom.  But he contented himself with saying: 

“My fairy! we are commanded to love those that hate us; and should you hate me more than ever, I should only continue to love you!”

“Love me at a distance, then! and the greater the distance, the more grateful I shall be!”

He could no longer quite restrain himself.  He seized her hand and drew her towards him, exclaiming in an eager, breathless, half-whisper: 

“No! closer and closer shall my love draw us, beautiful one! until it compasses your hate and unites us forever!”