Page:Between Two Loves.djvu/260

Rh I hev waited variy patient, Sarah; now, then, how soon will ta marry me?"

"Dear master, how can I leave these three little childer, nay, then, there are four o' them, for Joyce is just as fit for nothing? Thou must wait until t' right time comes."

"If ta knew, Sarah, how it pains me to see thy white, half-clemmed face! How can I be happy, and thou so miserable?"

"Nay-a, not miserable; nobody is that who is doing the thing they ought to do."

"But Steve will get off. There isn't no doubt o' that. Squire Aske was as sorry as could be when He heard of Steve being in prison."

"I wonder how Squire Aske knew our Steve?"

"He told me how. He said one day he was coming through Denham Woods, and he met Steve, and t' lad showed him an orchid he hed just found; and t' squire gave Steve a guinea for it. I don't know what an orchid is, my lass, but it's nowt wrong, I'm sure; happen it's a bird o' some kind."

"Nay, it's a flower. I remember Steve