"Nay. A husband never offers himself to his wife: the gift should be so valuable that she would willingly exchange herself for it."
"Will thy daughter think so?"
"Undoubtedly."
"May I be emboldened to ask her?"
"Thy mind must tell thee better than my lips," he said.
Then I watched him going down among the trees and the shadows, and I sat, much perturbed in spirit, waiting for Barbara. When she did come I had not one word to say. I only remember that I sat with one leg crossed over the other, and wished I could perchance cross the right one over the left instead of the left over the right, and yet I had not the power to do so. I was sure my brain was playing me false, for things seemed utterly at variance with possibilities.
"Thee seems shaken, friend Biddle," said she.
"Nay," I responded.
"Thee certainly is. I trust thy business is prospering, and that thy mind is not set too much upon any one thing."
"Nay."