“It is so!”
And immediately Count Ville-Handry appeared, already dressed, curled,
and painted, bearing the appearance of a man who is about to enjoy his
revenge.
“Leave us!” he said to the maid-servant.
And, as soon as Clarissa had left the room, he turned to Henrietta with
these words,--
“Yes, indeed, my dear Henrietta, I have given strict orders not to bring
you up any thing to eat. Why should you indulge such fancies? I ask you.
Are you unwell? If you are, we will send for the doctor. If not, you
will do me the favor to come down and take your meals in the dining-room
with the family,--with the countess and myself, M. Elgin and Mrs.
Brian.”
“But, father!”
“There is no father who could stand this. The time of weakness is
past, and so is the time of passion; therefore, you will come down. Oh!
whenever you feel disposed. You will, perhaps, pout a day, maybe two
days; but hunger drives the wolf into the village; and on the third day
we shall see you come down as soon as the bell rings. I have in vain
appealed to your heart; you see I am forced to appeal to your stomach.”
Whatever efforts Henrietta might make to remain impassive, the tears
would come into her eyes,--tears of shame and humiliation. Could this
idea of starving her into obedience have originated with her father? No,
he would never have thought of it! It was evidently a woman’s thought,
and the result of bitter, savage hate.
Still the poor girl felt that she was caught; and her heart revolted at
the ignominy of the means, and the certainty that she would be forced
to yield. Her cruel imagination painted to her at once the exultation of
the new countess, when she, the daughter of Count Ville-Handry, would
appear in the dining-room, brought there by want, by hunger.
“Father,” she begged, “send me nothing but bread and water, but spare me
that exposure.”
But, if the count was repeating a lesson, he had learned it well. His
features retained their sardonic expression; and he said in an icy
tone,--
“I have told you what I desire. You have heard it, and that is enough.”
He was turning to leave the room, when his daughter held him back.
“Father,” she said, “listen to me.”
“Well, what is it, now?”
“Yesterday you threatened to shut me up.”
“Well?”
“To-day it is I who beseech you to do so. Send me to a convent. However
harsh and strict the rules may be, however sad life may be there, I will
find there some relief for my sorrow, and I will bless you with all my
heart.”