“Yes, when that Mayo man said he had awful news, I felt sure 'twas you he was goin' to tell about. I never fainted away in my life that I know of, but I think I 'most fainted then.”
“And you cared as much as that?”
“Yes.”
Somehow both were speaking quietly, but as if it was useless longer to keep back anything. To speak the exact truth without reserve seemed the most natural thing in the world.
“Well, well, well!” said the Captain reverently, and still in the same low tone. “I said once afore that I b'lieved you was sent here, and now I'm sure of it. It seems almost as if you was sent to ME, don't it?”
The housekeeper still looked out of the window, but she answered simply, “I don't know.”
“It does, it does so. Marthy, we've been happy together while you've been here. Do you b'lieve you could be happy with me always—if you married me, I mean?”
Mrs. Snow turned and looked at him. There were tears in her eyes, but she did not wipe them away.
“Yes,” she said.
“Think now, Marthy. I ain't very young, and I ain't very rich.”