"I don't believe any man was ever plagued with such an aggravating daughter as mine.

What do you say to being mistress of such a place, girl ?--mistress of close upon four hundred acres of land; not another man's servant, bound to account for every blade of grass and every ear of corn, as I am, but free and independent mistress of the place, with the chance of being left a widow by and by, and having it all under your own thumb; what do you say to that ?" "Only the same that I have always said, father.

Nothing would ever persuade me to marry Stephen Whitelaw.

I'd rather starve." "And you shall starve, if you stick to that," roared William Carley with a blasphemous oath.

"But you won't be such a fool, Nell.