'She thinks you have!'
'She!' and the face lighted up. 'You don't mean that she holds to that? Of course you know nothing about it, though? Some childish nonsense passed years ago, but I never durst believe she remembered it.'
'She knows it ought not to bind you, but—'
'Bind! What should bind but the love of my whole heart, ever since I knew I had one? I durst not speak again of it. When I came to perceive what I had done, I thought it not fair towards her to renew it, till I had the means to keep her as she ought to be kept; for you know I've not got a preserve of old aunts, like Jack!'
'Quite right, Will!'
'And when she had been among all those swells, how did I know what she might not be wanting to take up with—never being much of a fellow to look at, any time?' he added wistfully.
'I think you might have known her better!'
'You see,' he broke out, 'I don't want her to be held to me only by what took place long ago, when she was a child of thirteen. That would be a downright shame, and I never meant to remind her till I had a home to offer her. There have been times when I made sure we understood one another; but to this hour I don't know whether she likes me a bit better than John, and if she—likes—this young man better—she has a perfect right!' concluded poor Will, with a great sob from his big honest chest.
'That you had better ascertain!'
'Do you tell me so?' he exclaimed.