Grasping the arm that she was stretching toward
him, he dragged her upward, seized her round the body, and carried her
to the bed.
"Now we'll go to work, you and I." He had thrown her down on her back,
and he held her with both his hands about her throat. "Now"--and the
sudden pressure of his hands made her gasp and cough--"we'll begin at
the beginning."
"Do you mean to murder me?"
"Prob'ly. But not till I've 'ad the truth--and I'll 'aarve it to the
last word, if I tear it out o' yer boosum."
"You'll kill me if I tell you."
"See that winder! That's yer road--head first--if you try to lie to
me."
Then she told him the whole sickening story of her relations with Mr.
Barradine. He had debauched her innocence when she was quite a young
girl; she had continued to be one of his many mistresses for several
years; then he grew tired of her, and, his attentions gradually
ceasing, he had left her quite free to do what she pleased. She had
never liked him, had always feared him. The long intermittent thraldom
to his power had been an abomination to her, and it was martyrdom to
return to him.
"Only to save you, Will. And he wouldn't help unless I done it. It was
as much a sacrifice for you as if I'd been hung, drawn, and quartered
for your sake.
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