Then she held them up to the light to admire their unwonted cleanness.
"I don't plead for myself," continued Waerli.

"If you don't love me, that is the end of the matter.

But if you do love me, Mariechen, and will marry me, you won't be unhappy.

Now I have said all." Marie put down the water-bottles, and turned to Waerli.
"You have been a long time in telling me," she said, pouting.

"Why didn't you tell me three months ago?
It's too late now." "Oh, Mariechen!" said the little postman, seizing her hand and covering it with kisses; "you love some one else--you are already betrothed?
And now it's too late, and you love some one else!" "I never said I loved some one else," Marie replied; "I only said it was too late.