But
here to their great astonishment I rebelled; astonishment because
they could not realize my desiring anything above money and the
position to which they declared I was by law entitled. In vain I
pleaded my love; in vain I threatened exposure of their plans if not
whereabouts. The mine of gold which they fondly believed they had
stumbled upon unawares, promised too richly to be easily abandoned.
'You must go with us,' said they, 'if not peaceably then by force,'
and they actually advanced upon me, upsetting a chair and tearing down
one of the curtains to which I clung. It was then I committed that
little act concerning which you questioned me. I wanted to show them
I was not to be moved by threats of that character; that I did not
even fear the shedding of my blood; and that they would only be
wasting their time in trying to sway me by hints of personal
violence. And they were a little impressed, sufficiently so at least
to turn their threats in another direction, awakening fears at last
which I could not conceal, much as I felt it would be policy to do
so. Gathering up a few articles I most prized, my wedding ring, Mr.
Blake, and a photograph of yourself that Mrs. Daniels had been kind
enough to give me, I put on my bonnet and cloak and said I would go
with them, since they persisted in requiring it.
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