"Lucy has no mother. Her father has been father and mother both to her
since she was two years old. He loves her beyond everything."

"I can believe that. I know a little of Ralph Lugur. He has been to see
me twice about the children of the village."

"He has them all at his beck and call. And Lucy, mother, she is so fair
and sweet! If you could only see her!"

"I have seen her."

"Oh, mother dear, don't speak unkindly of her!"

"Nay; why should I? She is, as you say, very pretty; and I'll warrant
she is as good as she is pretty. I could trust Lugur to bring her up
properly--but she is not a mate for you."

"I will have no other mate."

"Miss Lugur may be all your fancy paints her, but why should your mother
be asked to leave her home, her duties, and pleasures for a year? To
subject herself to bad weather and sickness and loneliness and fatigue
of all kinds in order that she may throw the mantle of her social
respectability over an equivocal situation. I do not blame the girl, but
I feel more keenly and bitterly than I can tell you the humiliation and
discomfort you would gladly put upon me in order to give yourself the
satisfaction of Miss Lugur's company. Harry, you are the most selfish
creature I ever met. John has promised to give up your rightful
assistance in the mill, to really do your work for a year, your income
is to be paid in full, though you won't earn a farthing of it; you