"I am going," I sighed. "What do you think he would tell me about the weather?"
"What we all say: 'The wind's canting in from the west, and you'll see this fog hop.'"
"It is what I say, and shall say forever, in such a case. 'The wind's canting in from the west, and you'll see this fog hop.'"
"You only pretend to be a Basin!"
"God forgive you! No; I don't pretend. I shall never get over it. I shall be one forever and ever, wherever I go, Vesty."
She looked down and paled. "Are you going away, major?"
"Yes." Then said I, looking at her, "How far do you think pity could lead one, Vesty—you, so pitiful and kind? Do you think that it could even lead you—to marry me? To take little Gurd and go away with me—and help me to live—for pity?"
"No! oh, no!" she gasped.
"Then," said I, grasping hard on my cane with my feeble hand, "as God wills!"
"Because," said Vesty, "I'm not so unselfish as that. I can't marry you for that reason—because—I love you!"