“And to make you read that stupid book’Wordsworth, her calls it’in the evening, whilst she knitted. You couldn’t have stood that, Jan?”
“Horrible!’I should ha’ died.”
“Then you may rejoice that Providence has ordained that she should go after the schoolmaster. Now you must look out and see what step you can take to recover the respect of the parish.”
“How can I do that?”
“Oh, there be more fishes in the sea than come out of it, I reckon.”
Jan remained in meditation, speechless. Rose pressed close to his side.
“Have you no room?” he asked.
“Oh, ’tisn’t that altogether; my feelings overcame me. I do so, so pity you, you dear, poor Jan.”
Presently, as he continued silent, she said, “If I were you, when shortly you meet Kitty, and when she will be in my place at your side, and I ride behind, I would not look like an apple that has gone under the rollers, nor hang my ears like a whipped dog, but laugh and joke and whistle and be jolly, you know.”
“That don’t seem right, with her father burned to death.”