'Nay lass! Aught that concerns you is good enow for me. I did but think
of you lest you might have pain or disappointment hereafter. If you love
Eric better nor me, in God's name say so, and I think I'm man enow to
stand aside. Likewise, if I'm the one, don't make us both miserable for
life!' Face to face with a difficulty, Sarah's weak nature proclaimed
itself; she put her hands before her face and began to cry, saying--

'It was my mother. She keeps telling me!' The silence which followed was
broken by Eric, who said hotly to Abel:

'Let the lass alone, can't you? If she wants to choose this way, let
her. It's good enough for me--and for you, too! She's said it now, and
must abide by it!' Hereupon Sarah turned upon him in sudden fury, and
cried:

'Hold your tongue! what is it to you, at any rate?' and she resumed her
crying. Eric was so flabbergasted that he had not a word to say, but
stood looking particularly foolish, with his mouth open and his hands
held out with the coin still between them. All were silent till Sarah,
taking her hands from her face laughed hysterically and said:

'As you two can't make up your minds, I'm going home!' and she turned to
go.

'Stop,' said Abel, in an authoritative voice. 'Eric, you hold the coin,
and I'll cry. Now, before we settle it, let us clearly understand: the
man who wins takes all the money that we both have got, brings it to
Bristol and ships on a voyage and trades with it. Then he comes back and
marries Sarah, and they two keep all, whatever there may be, as the
result of the trading. Is this what we understand?'