"No, but on the same day. I knew he was my friend, and I didn't know but—"
"That he would order me to marry you?"
"No, not that, but I thought he might reason with you."
"That's just like a stupid man. He thinks that he can win a woman with reason."
He pondered a long time, seeming to feel that this bit of observation merited well-considered reply, and at last he said: "No, I didn't think that a woman could be won by something she didn't understand."
"Oh, you didn't. That was brilliant of you. But let us not spat with each other, Jim."
"I couldn't spat with you, Louise; I think too much of you for that, and I want to say right now that no matter if you do marry I'm going to keep on loving you just the same. I have loved you so long now that I don't know how to quit. People say that I am industrious, and they compliment me for keeping up my place so well, and for not going to town and loafing about of a Sunday and at night, but the truth is there ain't a dog in this county that's lazier than I am. During all these years my mind has been on you so strong that I have been driven to work."
She had thrown down her iron weed blossoms and had put her hands to her ears to shut out his words as if they were a reproach to her, but she heard him and thus replied: "It appears that I have been of some service at any rate."
"Yes, but now you are going to undo it all."
"I thought you said you were going to keep on loving me just the same."