from him. And, Sarah, it's not unlikely that t' prison hes taught him that he can manage to live without tramping up and down from one week end to another. And get a lesson sure-ly, about taking up with iverybody that speaks pleasant to him. So, then, when Steve is settled to work again, what is there to hinder? Be my wife, and come to thy home."
"I'll say one thing. Just as soon as Steve is doing well, I'll count the promise I made my mother fulfilled. But she set me a charge and I hev to keep it. I couldn't be happy, not even with thee, if I ran away from my duty."
"It's a varry hard one, Sarah."
"Thou's wrong there. Love makes hard things easy, and I love my mother yet, and I love Steve, dearly! Hev a bit more patience. I won't hev my happiness till I can ask God's blessing on it. I must wait for t' right time, and I must be sure it is t' right time."
"Then, Sarah, I'll wait as patient as iver I can, till thou art sure. But oh, lass, how I love thee! Thou art dear as my own life to me!"
She blushed with pleasure, and voluntarily put her hand in his. "In a little while," she said. "T' shadows are beginning to brighten, and now
