She would show them all WHO
would be glad to have her. She was not yet calm after her father's
irritating speeches. Yet her eyes fell veiled before that
passionate look fixed upon her.
"Dear Mary! (for how dear you are, I cannot rightly tell you in
words.) It's no new story I'm going to speak about. You must ha'
seen and known it long; for since we were boy and girl I ha' loved
you above father and mother and all; and all I've thought on by day
and dreamt on by night has been something in which you've had a
share. I'd no way of keeping you for long, and I scorned to try and
tie you down; and I lived in terror lest some one else should take
you to himself. But now, Mary, I'm foreman in th' works, and, dear
Mary! listen," as she, in her unbearable agitation, stood up and
turned away from him. He rose too, and came nearer, trying to take
hold of her hand; but this she would not allow. She was bracing
herself up to refuse him, for once and for all.
"And now, Mary, I've a home to offer you, and a heart as true as
ever man had to love you and cherish you; we shall never be rich
folk, I dare say; but if a loving heart and a strong right arm can
shield you from sorrow, or from want, mine shall do it.
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