`I should be very sorry to understand your feelings,' said Tom, with scorching contempt.`What I wish is that you should understand me - that I shall take care of my sister, and that if you dare to make the least attempt to come near her, or to write to her, or to keep the slightest hold on her mind, your puny, miserable body, that ought to have put some modesty into your mind, shall not protect you.I'll thrash you - I'll hold you up to public scorn.Who wouldn't laugh at the idea of your turning lover to a fine girl?'
`Tom, I will not bear it - I will listen no longer,' Maggie burst out in a convulsed voice.
`Stay, Maggie!' said Philip, ****** a strong effort to speak.Then, looking at Tom, `You have dragged your sister here, I suppose, that she may stand by while you threaten and insult me.These naturally seemed to you the right means to influence me.But you are mistaken.Let your sister speak.If she says she is bound to give me up, I shall abide by her wishes to the slightest word.'
`It was for my father's sake, Philip,' said Maggie, imploringly.`Tom threatens to tell my father - and he couldn't bear it - I have promised, I have vowed solemnly that we will not have any intercourse without my brother's knowledge.'
`It is enough, Maggie.I shall not change; but I wish you to hold yourself entirely free.But trust me - remember that I can never seek for anything but good to what belongs to you.'
`Yes,' said Tom, exasperated by this attitude of Philip's, `you can talk of seeking good for her and what belongs to her now: did you seek her good before?'
`I did - at some risk, perhaps.But I wished her to have a friend for life - who would cherish her, who would do her more justice than a coarse and narrow-minded brother, that she has always lavished her affections on.'
`Yes, my way of befriending her is different from yours - and I'll tell you what is my way.I'll save her from disobeying and disgracing her father - I'll save her from throwing herself away on you - from ****** herself a laughing-stock - from being flouted by a man like your father, because she's not good enough for his son.You know well enough what sort of justice and cherishing you were preparing for her.I'm not to be imposed upon by fine words - I can see what actions mean.Come away, Maggie.'
He seized Maggie's right wrist as he spoke, and she put out her left hand.Philip clasped it an instant, with one eager look and then hurried away.
Tom and Maggie walked on in silence for some yards.He was still holding her wrist tightly as if he were compelling a culprit form the scene of action.At last Maggie, with a violent snatch drew her hand away, and her pent-up, long-gathered irritation burst into utterance.
`Don't suppose that I think you are right, Tom, or that I bow to your will.I despise the feelings you have shown in speaking to Philip - I detest your insulting unmanly allusions to his deformity.You have been reproaching other people all your life - you have been always sure you yourself are right: it is because you have not a mind large enough to see that there is anything better than your own conduct and your own petty aims.'
`Certainly,' said Tom, coolly.`I don't see that your conduct is better, or your aims either.If your conduct, and Philip Wakem's conduct, has been right, why are you ashamed of its being known? Answer me that.I know what I have aimed at in my conduct and I've succeeded: pray, what good has your conduct brought to you or any one else?'
`I don't want to defend myself--' said Maggie, still with vehemence: