"Very," replied Mr. Douglas, "and harder to leave the people. I haven't known you very long Miss Graves."
"No, only a few weeks, but very pleasant weeks."
"They have been so to me, and the more I see of you, the more I dislike going away."
"Yes, the people gathered here are delightful, almost a unique party."
"I did not mean the people in general. I meant Miss Graves. I hope that blunt speech doesn't offend you."
"Not at all. It is blunt, as you say, but complimentary."
"I don't want to make compliments, Miss Graves, until I have the right. I want you to come home with me to Edinburgh as my wife."
"This is very sudden and very kind, Mr. Douglas. What do you know of me, a poor girl working for my living?"
"I know more than you think, and honour you for your work and independent spirit. I am not going to say I want to take you away from drudgery, and put you in a better position, because I want you to take me for myself, if I am worth taking, as a man."
Miss Graves looked upon his manly honest face with eyes as honest, yet with the merest shade of coquetry in them, and said: "You are worth taking as a man."