To be sure , when Melissa and I did n't turn up the Covites might get out and search for us ; but that would n't be for two or three days anyhow . Melissa had turned her back on me and was sitting with her elbows propped up on her knees , looking gloomily out to sea . I was afraid I could n't coax her into marrying Isaac . As for me , I had n't any real objection to marrying him , after all , for if he was short of romance he was good-natured and has a fat bank account ; but I hated to be driven into it that way . `` You 'd better take him , Melissa , '' I said entreatingly . `` I 've had one husband and that is enough . '' `` More than enough for me , thank you , '' said Melissa sarcastically . `` Isaac is a fine man and has a lovely house ; and you are n't sure the Kingsbridge man really means anything , '' I went on . `` I would rather , '' said Melissa , with the same awful calmness , `` jump down from this roof and break my neck , or be devoured piecemeal by that fiend down there than marry Isaac Appleby . '' It did n't seem worth while to say anything more after that . We sat there in stony silence and the time dragged by . I was hot , hungry , thirsty , cross ; and besides , I felt that I was in a ridiculous position , which was worse than all the rest . We could see Isaac sitting in the shade of one of his apple trees in the front orchard comfortably reading a newspaper . I think if he had n't aggravated me by doing that I 'd have given in sooner . But as it was , I was determined to be as stubborn as everybody else . We were four obstinate creatures -- Isaac and Melissa and Julius Caesar and I . At four o'clock Isaac got up and went into the house ; in a few minutes he came out again with a basket in one hand and a ball of cord in the other . `` I do n't intend to starve you , of course , ladies , '' he said politely , `` I will throw this ball up to you and you can then draw up the basket . '' I caught the ball , for Melissa never turned her head . I would have preferred to be scornful , too , and reject the food altogether ; but I was so dreadfully thirsty that I put my pride in my pocket and hauled the basket up .
Besides , I thought it might enable us XXXXX hold out until some loophole of escape presented itself .
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