Page:Authors daughter v1.djvu/180

176 master, for it was a pleasure to you, and you had the wit as well as the will to do it."

"I have been brought up as differently from Miss Staunton as you have been," said George. "Father is only a tenant-farmer of old Mr. Derrick, a jolly, beer-drinking farmer, who rides a good horse, keeps a good table, pays his rent, growls at the game laws, and laughs at the doctor. He has had more schooling than your worthy father, but is not so long-headed or so prudent. I never 'saw such natural business talents as your father has 'except perhaps Allan's. No; I would not have done as much for any other master, though I confess I might have done as much for any other woman as for you, because I was blind and did not see how much better you were than any I had seen in my wandering life. I am not really far ahead of you in my bringing up, though desperately behind you in purse. But, Jessie, for all that I am going to try to deserve you, and when you have made a man of me I'll see how my better self feels towards you and then how your good father feels towards me."

"He takes your leaving him very much to heart," said Jessie. "I never saw him so much put out with anything."

"Well, if he'll forgive me I'll work at