Part 11 (1/2)
He at once changed his tone, which showed that he was deeply in earnest.
”Nelly,” he said, ”I have sought you for long years, and however others may admire you, they cannot care for you as I do--my love surpa.s.ses theirs a hundredfold. I can give you a comfortable home, and make you equal to any of the fine ladies we have been watching to-day. You need no longer carry that creel on your back, and slave as you have been doing, if you will become my wife. I tell you that I love you more than life itself, and ask you, will you marry me?”
Nelly would willingly have stopped Eban from talking on, but had hitherto been unable to get in a word.
”I have known you, Eban Cowan, since I way a girl, but I have never for one moment encouraged you to suppose that I would become your wife, and I now say positively that I cannot and will not. I thank you for all you have said to me, though I would rather you had left it unsaid; and I would wish to be friendly, as we have always been,” she answered, firmly.
”Is that the only answer you can give me?” exclaimed Eban.
”I can give no other,” replied Nelly.
”Do you never intend to marry, then?” asked Eban.
”I am not compelled to tell you my intentions,” said Nelly.
”Do you love any one else? because I shall then know how to act,”
exclaimed Eban.
Nelly thought for a moment. ”I will tell him; it will be the kindest thing to do, as he will then understand that I can never marry him, and wisely seek another wife.”
”Yes, Eban Cowan, I do love another,” she said, in a low voice. ”I love Michael Penguyne, and can be no other man's wife than his. You have long called him your friend; let him be your friend still, but give up all thoughts of me.”
”I now know how to act,” muttered Eban, gloomily. ”I had no idea that you cared for him; and if you choose to become a poor fisherman's wife, you must follow your own course; only, do not suppose that I can cease to love you.”
”I cannot listen to what you say,” exclaimed Nelly, walking on rapidly, and feeling very indignant at Eban's last remark.
He did not attempt to follow her, and she soon overtook Dame Lanreath and the friends who were accompanying her. When she looked round, Eban had disappeared. She felt greatly relieved at having got rid of him, and she hoped that, notwithstanding what he had said, he would abandon all hopes of becoming her husband.
Eban went home by another path, muttering fiercely that he would not be balked, and that Michael should pay dearly for coming between him and the girl he loved.
People little know, when they give way to their unbridled pa.s.sions, into what crimes they may be led.
Day after day Eban Cowan pondered over his rejection by Nelly, and chose to consider himself especially ill-treated.
”She should have let me know years ago that she intended to marry that fellow. How can she think of preferring him, a poor, hard-working lad, to me?” he exclaimed; and dreadful thoughts came into his mind. He made no attempt to drive them from him.
CHAPTER NINE.
The autumn was drawing on. The pilchard harvest had not been as successful as the fishermen desired, and they kept their boats at sea in the hopes of obtaining a share of the schools of fish which still hovered off their coasts. The drift-nets now could only be used with any prospect of success, and Michael was as active and energetic as ever. He had, indeed, greater reason for working hard, as Nelly had promised to become his wife in the ensuing spring. He wished to make every preparation in his power that she might begin her married life with as much comfort as a fisherman's wife could hope to do.
”Only we must look after granny too, and try to save her the long trudges she has had to make; and repay her, though that would be a hard matter, for all the care she took of us when we were young,” he observed to Nelly, as they were talking over their future prospects.
Nelly heartily agreed with him; but when Dame Lanreath heard of their intentions, she laughed at the notion of giving up her daily walks to market.
”More reason for Nelly to stay at home to look after the house. Wait a bit till my limbs grow stiffer than they are as yet, and till she has got a little damsel of her own to trot alongside her as she used to trot alongside me,” she answered.
”But, granny, I have been thinking of getting little Mary Lanaherne, Uncle Reuben's granddaughter, to go to market with me while you stay at home; she is quite ready to agree to my plan,” said Nelly.
”Ah, I see you want to become a fine lady now you are going to marry, and have an attendant of your own,” said the dame, laughing. ”Bide a bit till you have need of help, and let my old limbs wag on while they have life in them.”