How'd I buy her dresses ?" "I don't believe but your father would be willing for you to live at home with her, and buy her dresses, till you got so you could earn yourself." "She wouldn't have me," said the boy, and he fairly dug his flushed face into the mass of wild-flowers.
"You are a good deal younger than father," said Maria.
"Your father he can give her a diamond ring, and I haven't got more'n forty cents, and I don't believe that would buy much of anything," said Wollaston, in muffled tones of grief and rage.
Maria felt a shock at the idea of a diamond ring.

Her mother had never owned one.
"Oh, I don't believe father will ever give her a diamond ring in the world," said she.
"She's wearing one, anyhow--I saw it," said Wollaston.

"Where did she get it if he didn't give it to her, I'd like to know ?" Maria felt cold.
"I don't believe it," she said again.

"Teacher is all alone in the school-house, correcting exercises.

Why don't you get right up, and go back and ask her?
I'll go with you, if you want me to." Wollaston raised himself indeterminately upon one elbow.
"Come along," urged Maria.
Wollaston got up slowly.