However, she was determined to stick to him at that time; and for what happened she was not much to blame, so near as they were to matrimony when the war broke out and spoiled all.' 'Even the very pig had been killed for the wedding,' said a woman, 'and the barrel o' beer ordered in.

O, the man meant honourable enough.

But to be off in two days to fight in a foreign country--'twas natural of her father to say they should wait till he got back.' 'And he never came,' murmured one in the shade.
'The war ended but her man never turned up again.

She was not sure he was killed, but was too proud, or too timid, to go and hunt for him.' 'One reason why her father forgave her when he found out how matters stood was, as he said plain at the time, that he liked the man, and could see that he meant to act straight.

So the old folks made the best of what they couldn't mend, and kept her there with 'em, when some wouldn't.
Time has proved seemingly that he did mean to act straight, now that he has writ to her that he's coming.