She continued to hide her face and sob. His arm tightened.
“I said you were the dearest person in the world,” he continued. “You are—to me. You are the dearest person in the world.”
“You—have no right—to say that.”
“Then whoever has a right to stop me had better make haste. I love you, Joe! Make the worst of that. I love you! Now run away and leave me sticking here in the snow.”
“But—the woman who sent you—after a horse?”
“Bless her for that! She was kinder to me than she intended to be. Look at me, Joe.”
She looked at him.
