But I beg you to let me be a while.

Not even to you, Steve, would I say it, without more to go upon than there is yet.

I might do the lass a great wrong in my surmising; and then you would visit my mistake on me, for she is the apple of your eye, no doubt." "There is never such another maid in all York County, nor in England, to my thinking." "She is my daughter as well as yours, and I would be the last to make cheap of her.

I will not say another word until I know.

But if I am right--which the Lord forbid--we shall both be ashamed of her, Stephen." "The Lord forbid! The Lord forbid! Amen.