"I don't know," hesitated Mrs. Randal. "The old one's good enough for me. But of course you'd get married, John."
"There's nobody I want to marry—you know that."
"Well, you might in time—and she'd be sorry, maybe—she might come round——"
"Do you think I'm likely to ask her again?" he said, his face hardening.
"She don't deserve it, to be sure," murmured Mrs. Randal. "Well, thinking over what's best for you, I do believe Canada's best. You've had a lot of trouble, and losing this dear child ain't the least of it, and in a fresh country you'd make new friends and start over again."
"Forget it all and start fresh. That's what you're thinking, is it?" said John.
"Well, my boy—seems as if it might be the best for you."
"I'll tell you then," he said. "You've heard Colonel Maxwell's offers, but you haven't heard my answers to them."
"Why, you've got to think them over."
"No. He said so, but I said there was no need for that. What's the good of considering and beating about the bush when one's mind's made up already?"