Page:Mehalah 1920.djvu/81

Rh "She is so angry with me that I doubt I shall not be able to bring her back to good humour." "I doubt so, too, unless you go the right way to work with her; and that is not what you are doing now." "Why, what ought I to do, Elijah?" "Do you want to break with her, George? Do you want to be off with Glory and on with milk-face?" "No, I do not." "You are set on Glory still? You will cleave to her till naught but death shall you part, eh?" "Naught else." "George! That other girl has good looks and money. Give up Mehalah, and hitch on to Phœbe. I know your mother will be best pleased if you do, and it will suit your interests well. Glory has not a penny, Phœbe has her pockets lined. Take my word for it you can have milk-face for the asking, and now is your opportunity for breaking with Glory if you have a mind to do so." "But I have not, Elijah." "What can Glory be to you, or you to Glory? She with her great heart, her stubborn will, her strong soul, and you—you—bah!" "Elijah, say what you like, but I will hold to Glory till death us do part." "Your hand on it. You swear that." "Yes, I do. I want a wife who can row a boat, a splendid girl, the sight of whom lights up the whole heart." "I tell you Glory is not one for you. See how passionate she is, she blazes up in a moment, and then she is one to shiver you if you offend her. No, she needs a man of other stamp than you to manage her," "She shall be mine," said George: "I want no other."

"This is your fixed resolve?" "My fixed resolve." "For better for worse?" "For better for worse, till death us do part."

"Till death you do part," Elijah jerked out a laugh. "George, if you are not the biggest fool I have set eyes on for many a day, I am much mistaken."

"Why so?"

"Because you are acting contrary to your interests,