“I’m in a bit of a difficulty, though. You see, I want to do the thing at once, and I can’t because I haven’t got the money yet. I want to know if there isn’t some means of arranging it. You see I only have a certain income at present. Later on, I shall get the whole fortune. It’s that silly business about getting it when I’m married. And, of course, I’m not married yet, am I?”
“No.”
Rosebud felt a desperate desire to run away. But she had never realized how difficult Seth was before. His uncompromising directness was enough to upset any one, she told herself.
“Well, I must raise the money now. You see, now.”
“Can’t be done. You see, the dollars ain’t yours till you marry. Mebbe they’ll never be yours. 371 Mebbe you won’t never marry. I guess every female don’t allus marry. No, can’t be done, I guess.”
“No—o. I never looked at it like that before. No. The money isn’t mine, is it? So, of course, I can’t do it. Oh, Seth, I am disappointed!”
The girl’s face had dropped, and there was something almost tragic in her tone. Seth heard the tone and it smote his heart, and made him long to take her in his arms and comfort her. He hated himself for what he had said.
“Why, little Rosie,” he said gently, “I was only jest lookin’ straight at it. Guess them dollars is yours. It’s jest a question o’ gettin’ married.”
The girl had turned away again. The sky was fast darkening, and a deep grayness was spreading from the east. And now, without turning, she said quietly—
“Yes, I must get married. But there’s no one wants to marry me.”