Do you see that green rise of ground over the meadow ?" "Yes, I see it," her tone was gentler.
"I've chosen that site for a home," he went on, "and I'm saving a good strip of pine--you can see it over there against the horizon.

I've half a mind to take down my axe and cut down the biggest of the trees this afternoon!" If his ardour touched her there was no sign of it in the movement with which she withdrew herself from his grasp.
"You'd better finish your grinding.

There isn't the least bit of a hurry," she returned with a smile.
"If you'll go with me, Molly, you may take your choice and I'll cut the tree down for you." "But I can't, Abel, because I've promised Mr.Mullen to visit his mother." The glow faded from his eyes and a look like that of an animal under the lash took its place.
"Come with me, not with him, Molly, you owe me that much," he entreated.
"But he's such a good man, and he preaches such beautiful sermons." "He does--I know he does, but I love you a thousand times better." "Oh, he loves me because I am pretty and hard to win--just as you do," she retorted.

"If I lost my hair or my teeth how many of you, do you think, would care for me to-morrow ?" "I should--before God I'd love you just as I do now," he answered with passion.
A half mocking, half tender sound broke from her lips.
"Then why don't you--every one of you, fall head over ears in love with Judy Hatch ?" she inquired.
"I don't because I loved you first, and I can't change, however badly you treat me.

I'm sometimes tempted to think, Molly, that mother is right, and you are possessed of a devil." "Your mother is a hard woman, and I pity the wife you bring home to her." The softness had gone out of her voice at the mention of Sarah's name, and she had grown defiant and reckless.
"I don't think you are just to my mother, Molly," he said after a moment, "she has a kind heart at bottom, and when she nags at you it is most often for your good." "I suppose it was for my mother's good that she kept her from going to church and made the old minister preach a sermon against her ?" "That's an old story--you were only a month old.