Now, permit me to put
it in this way. You belong to me already, you know; your heart, I
mean. Does it not?"
"You know as well as I. O yes--yes!"
"Then, if your heart does, why not your hand?"
"My only reason was on account of you--on account of a question. I
have something to tell you--"
"But suppose it to be entirely for my happiness, and my worldly
convenience also?"
"O yes; if it is for your happiness and worldly convenience. But my
life before I came here--I want--"
"Well, it is for my convenience as well as my happiness. If I have a
very large farm, either English or colonial, you will be invaluable
as a wife to me; better than a woman out of the largest mansion in
the country. So please--please, dear Tessy, disabuse your mind of
the feeling that you will stand in my way."
"But my history. I want you to know it--you must let me tell
you--you will not like me so well!"
"Tell it if you wish to, dearest. This precious history then. Yes,
I was born at so and so, Anno Domini--"
"I was born at Marlott," she said, catching at his words as a help,
lightly as they were spoken. "And I grew up there. And I was in the
Sixth Standard when I left school, and they said I had great aptness,
and should make a good teacher, so it was settled that I should
be one.
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