"Oh! but try to go to sleep now, my dear," said Hannah, as if satisfied.
"I can't; but, Hannah, I say, are you and Reuben Gray engaged?"
"Yes, dear."
"How long have you been engaged?"
"For more than twelve years, dear."
"My—good—gracious—me—alive! Twelve years! Why on earth don't you get married, Hannah?"
"He cannot afford it, dear; it takes everything he can rake and scrape to keep his mother and his little brothers and sisters, and even with all that they often want."
"Well, then, why don't he let you off of your promise?"
"Nora!—what! why we would no sooner think of breaking with each other than if we had been married, instead of being engaged all these twelve years!"
"Well, then, when do you expect to be married?"