My father looked round quickly, and discovered Dame Dermody facing him in the full light of the window.
She had stepped back, at the outset of the dispute, into the corner behind the fireplace.
There she had remained, biding her time to speak, until my father's last threat brought her out of her place of retirement.
They looked at each other for a moment.
My father seemed to think it beneath his dignity to answer her.
He went on with what he had to say to me.
"I shall count three slowly," he resumed.
"Before I get to the last number, make up your mind to do what I tell you, or submit to the disgrace of being taken away by force."
"Take him where you may," said Dame Dermody, "he will still be on his way to his marriage with my grandchild."
"And where shall I be, if you please?" asked my father, stung into speaking to her this time.
The answer followed instantly in these startling words:
"You will be on your way to your ruin and your death."
My father turned his back on the prophetess with a smile of contempt.
"One!" he said, beginning to count.
I set my teeth, and clasped both arms round Mary as he spoke.
I had inherited some of his temper, and he was now to know it.
"Two!" proceeded my father, after waiting a little.
Mary put her trembling lips to my ear, and whispered:
"Let me go, George!
I can't bear to see it.
Oh, look how he frowns!
I know he'll hurt you."
My father lifted his forefinger as a preliminary warning before he counted Three.
"Stop!" cried Dame Dermody.
My father looked round at her again with sardonic astonishment.
"I beg your pardon, ma'am—have you anything particular to say to me?" he asked.
"Man!" returned the Sibyl, "you speak lightly.
Have I spoken lightly to You?
I warn you to bow your wicked will before a Will that is mightier than yours.
The spirits of these children are kindred spirits.
For time and for eternity they are united one to the other.
Put land and sea between them—they will still be together; they will communicate in visions, they will be revealed to each other in dreams.
Bind them by worldly ties; wed your son, in the time to come, to another woman, and my grand-daughter to another man.
In vain! I tell you, in vain!
You may doom them to misery, you may drive them to sin—the day of their union on earth is still a day predestined in heaven.
It will come! it will come!
Submit, while the time for submission is yours.
You are a doomed man.
I see the shadow of disaster, I see the seal of death, on your face.
Go; and leave these consecrated ones to walk the dark ways of the world together, in the strength of their innocence, in the light of their love.
Go—and God forgive you!"
In spite of himself, my father was struck by the irresistible strength of conviction which inspired those words.
The bailiff's mother had impressed him as a tragic actress might have impressed him on the stage.
She had checked the mocking answer on his lips, but she had not shaken his iron will.
His face was as hard as ever when he turned my way once more.
"The last chance, George," he said, and counted the last number:
"Three!"
I neither moved nor answered him.
"You will have it?" he said, as he fastened his hold on my arm.
I fastened my hold on Mary; I whispered to her,