And you are so young that to seek to bind you, even if you loved me, would be an unmanly thing.

But now you are old enough, and you know your own mind surely well enough, just to say whether you feel as if you could ever love me as I love you." He turned away, as if he felt that he had no right to press me so, and blamed himself for selfishness; and I liked him better for doing that than for any thing he had done before.

Yet I knew that I ought to speak clearly, and though my voice was full of tears, I tried.
"Dear Firm," I said, as I took his hand and strove to look at him steadily, "I like and admire you very much; and by-and-by--by-and-by, I might, that is, if you did not hurry me.

Of all the obstacles you have mentioned, none is worth considering.

I am nothing but a poor castaway, owing my life to Uncle Sam and you.