'Folk allus says I'm theirs. I'd liefer be mine.'
'As you wouldn't marry me, Hazel, the least you can do is to come and talk to me sometimes.'
'Oh, I canna!'
'You must. Any spare time come to this tree. I shall generally be here.'
'But why ever? And you a squire with a big place and fine ladies after you!'
'Because I choose.'
'Leave me be, Mr. Reddin. I be comforble, and Foxy be, and they're all settling so nice. The bird's sung.'
'The parson, too, no doubt. If you don't come often enough, I shall walk past the house and look in. If you go on not coming, I shall tell the parson you stayed the night with me, and he'll turn you out.'
'He wouldna! You wouldna!'
'Yes, I would. He would, too. A parson doesn't want a wife that isn't respectable. So as you've got to'—he dropped his harshness and became persuasive—'you may as well come with a good grace.'