Anita rose to her feet.
“No! – No! – I cannot – and I will not – marry the Reverend – gentleman!”
“You will do as you are told,” Miss Lavenham retorted. “I have no wish for him to be disappointed and the marriage has my full approval. I presume, as your father is dead and your mother is abroad, that I, as the eldest of the Lavenham family, am in the position of being your Guardian, and as your Guardian, Anita, I will have no opposition to my plans. When the Vicar calls tomorrow, you will accept him and I shall make arrangements for you to be married in a month’s time.”
The way Miss Lavenham spoke was so positive, so overpowering, that Anita felt as if the walls were closing in on her and there was no escape.
With a little cry like that of an animal caught in a trap, she hurried from th
