Widow LARKEN, MABEL, and GILBERT.
Gilb. And could you doubt me, Mabel, after I told you I loved you?
Mabel. Never would nor could have doubted, had you once told me as much, Mr. Gilbert.
Widow. There was the thing, Mr. Gilbert—you know it was you that was to speak, if you thought of her.
Gilb. Do not you remember the rose and the shamrock?
Widow. Oh! she does well enough; and that’s what her heart was living upon, till I killed the hope.
Gilb. You!—killed the hope!—I thought you were my friend.
Widow. And so I am, and was—but when you did not speak.
Gilb. If I had not loved her so well, I might have been able, perhaps, to have said more.
Widow. Then that’s enough. Mabel mavourneen, wear the rose he give you now—I’ll let you—and see it’s fresh enough. She put it in water—oh! she had hope still!