'For I reckon I may not be here long to care for her myself.'
That was all he said at first, but that he would say often for some days, till he was sure that Christian had taken the sense in full, and had failed to quite disbelieve his foreboding.
'Before I lie down in the dark, I would like main to hear you take oath on it, lad.'
'I take oaths never,' said Christian mechanically.
'Right, right! save in this wise: before God's altar with ring and blessing.'
Christian examined his face long to be sure of understanding; then he said, 'No.'
Giles was disappointed, but spite of the absolute tone he would not take a negative.
'When I am gone to lie yonder east and west, and when some day the wife shall come too to bed with me, how will you take care of my little maid? her and her good name?'
'Oh, God help us!'
'Look you to it, for I doubt she, dear heart, cares for you—now—more than for her mere good name.'