"And besides, Bram, as I said before, a promise is a promise, and you know very well you wouldn't think it right for me to break mine; now, would you?"
"Well, no, I suppose not," answered Bram, fairly pushed to the wall. "Anyhow, you needn't stay very long."
"No; I don't propose to live there, as I did once. Bram, do you remember our talking about that the night I fell over the cliff? What a goose I was!"
"I don't believe you will 'influence' Gerty—not much," said Bram. "She isn't that kind."
"I don't think I shall try. I haven't forgotten what you said about letting our light shine steadily, instead of holding it up and waving it about."
"But you won't stay long?" persisted Bram.
"No longer than I must in decency."
And with that Bram was obliged to be content.
He drove Marion over to Rock Bottom in the little carriage, taking a somewhat roundabout road to show her certain favourite points of view which she had not yet seen, and arrived at Rock Bottom about six in the evening.
It was a very pretty little village, built just where a small stream came down from the hills and ran across a narrow, fertile plain to the river. The Susquehanna here broke into a rapid, adding much to the beauty, but not greatly to the healthfulness, of the place, for it is a fact that rapids in such great rivers are great promoters of agues.