'If it makes you glad to hear it,' said the young man, in an
uncertain voice, 'I'm all the more glad myself, on that account.'
'Makes me glad? That's no word for it, boy; that's no word for it!
Give us your hand again. I feel as if I'd ought to go down on my old
knees and crave your pardon. If only she could have lived to see
this, the poor woman as died when things was at their worst! If I'd
only listened to her there'd never have been them years of
unfriendliness between us. You've gone on with one kindness after
another, but this is more than I could ever a' thought possible.
Why, I took it for certain as you was goin' to marry that other
young girl; they told me as it was all settled.'
'A mistake.'
'I'd never have dared to hope it, Sidney. The one thing as I wished
more than anything else on earth, and I couldn't think ever to see
it. Glad's no word for what I feel. And to think as my girl kep' it
from me! Yes, yes; there was something on her face; I remember it
now. "I'm just goin' round to have a word with Sidney," I says. "Are
you, father?" she says. "Don't stay too long." And she had a sort o'
smile I couldn't quite understand.
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