Ambrose Nast

I cursed myself for my weakness and appealed to God to restore my strength, just for one hour.

I thought of Rankins watching the shoreline through the window of Florence's house and watching the clock, confused by how long my errand was taking.

and I was not yet even into town, and so I ran.

I did not, however, get all the way to Colonel Morrow's house.

I was not yet fully out of breath from my bone-jarring labor when I saw a shape on the road ahead, and by its elderly gate I guessed this to be Colonel Morrow himself.

I was unable to maintain my composure upon reaching him.

The fears that had grown and evolved in my fevered mind spilled out in a rush with no forethought or coordination in the cadence of a madman, I am sure.

Morrow, no longer inclined to speak much at his age, having long since left his youthful glories in the courtroom behind, looked at me with dull eyes.

nothing i said seemed to move him in the slightest and it vexed me terribly i ended my crazed monologue by pleading with him to come back with me to florence's side and there at the house we would protect her all night into dawn and beyond if necessary

Yes, but he croaked finally, seeming unsteady on his feet.

He looked terribly old then.

The matter has been already decided, to mutual agreement.

What can you possibly mean?

I asked him.

His words came slowly and shamefully.

The offer for Florence's hand, he told me, was 30,000 Dutch guilders.

And I accepted.

I cried with anger then, anger at this man who paid me to appraise his daughter's situation and safety, to alert him if she ever came to distress or her mental fits became too disruptive, and to protect her from prying eyes.

Do you know what you've done?

Do you know who you've given her to?