The soft pressure of Molly's fingers was still on his hand, and he saw her face looking up at him, gentle and beseeching, as she had looked when she offered her lips to his kiss.

Above the yearning of his heart there rose now the decision of his judgment--and this had surrendered her to Mr.Mullen! Some rigid strain of morality, inherited from Sarah and therefore continually at war with her, caused him to torture himself into a mental recognition that her choice was for the best.
"That man never walked that had sense enough to pick out a wife," rejoined Sarah.

"To think of a great hulkin' fellow like you losin' yo' sense over a half mad will-o'-the-wisp that don't even come of decent people.

If she hadn't had eyes as big as saucers, do you reckon you'd ever have turned twice to look at her ?" "For God's sake don't talk about her--she's not going to marry me," he responded, and the admission of the truth he had so often repeated in his own mind caused a pang of disbelief.
"I'd like to know why she ain't ?" snorted Sarah indignantly, "does she think she's goin' to get a better catch in this neighbourhood ?" "Oh, it's all one.

She doesn't want to, that is enough." "Well, she's a fool if she doesn't want to, an' I'll say it to her face.
If thar's a better lookin' man around here, I'd like to see him, or a better worker.