"_She_ told you that?"
The pale cheeks looked even paler, perhaps from the fierce brightness in the eyes above them.
"No. Lush told me," was the slow answer. It was as if the thumb-screw and the iron boot were being placed by creeping hands within sight of the expectant victim.
"Good God! say at once that you are going to marry her," she burst out, passionately, her knees shaking and her hands tightly clasped.
"Of course, this kind of thing must happen some time or other, Lydia," said he; really, now the thumb-screw was on, not wishing to make the pain worse.
"You didn't always see the necessity."

"She told you that?" The pale cheeks looked even paler.
"No. Lush told me," was the slow answer. It was as if the thumb-screw was being placed by creeping hands within sight of the expectant victim.
"Good God! say at once that you are going to marry her," she burst out passionately, her hands tightly clasped.
"Of course, it must happen some time or other, Lydia," said he; really, now the thumb-screw was on, not wishing to make the pain worse.
"You didn't always see the necessity."
