He went on quickly: "No, you do not know her. She will be more vexed and
angrier than your father. You will see how she will refuse. But you must
be firm, you must not give way, you must repeat that you want to marry
me, and no one else. Will you do this?"
"I will."
"On leaving your mother you must tell your father the same thing in a
very serious and decided manner."
"Yes, yes; and then?"
"And then it is that matters become serious. If you are determined, very
determined--very, very determined to be my wife, my dear, dear little
Susan--I will--run away with you."
She experienced a joyful shock, and almost clapped her hands. "Oh! how
delightful. You will run away with me. When will you run away with me?"
All the old poetry of nocturnal elopements, post-chaises, country inns;
all the charming adventures told in books, flashed through her mind,
like an enchanting dream about to be realized. She repeated: "When will
you run away with me?"