“Well, you can’t lift it now—and serve you right! You surely never expected Gran’fer to lug a sulky lout over his doorstep.”
“Of course not. I never expected I’d want to cross it. Why, Jinny, though you were there in the room, I was that blind——!” And his hand sought hers again.
“Leave me alone!” she cried. “You and your miserable vows!”
“I’d cut my tongue out if I could unsay the words.”
“You can unsay ’em more easily with your tongue in.”
“A man can’t go back on his sworn word. Women don’t understand.”
“So you said about horses. And nicely you managed yours! Oh, forgive me, I didn’t mean to crow. That was your misfortune. But this is your fault. It’s your pride you’re in love with; not me. Good-bye; Gran’fer will be starving.” She lifted the gate-latch angrily.
“But only good-bye for the moment,” he pleaded. “I can’t cross your threshold, but you can cross mine.”
She answered more gently, but her tone was tired and helpless. “And what would be the good, unless you and Gran’fer make it up?”
“I’m not marrying your grandfather!”