"Which on us do you like best?" said he, wistfully, after a little
pause, putting her arm away, so that he might look in her face, and
see if she spoke truth.

She went very red.

"You should not ask such questions. They are not fit for you to ask,
nor for me to answer."

"But mother bade you love me!" said he, plaintively.

"And so I do. And so I ever will do. Lover nor husband shall come
betwixt thee and me, lad--ne'er a one of them. That I promise thee
(as I promised mother before), in the sight of God and with her
hearkening now, if ever she can hearken to earthly word again. Only
I cannot abide to have thee fretting, just because my heart is large
enough for two."

"And thou'lt love me always?"

"Always, and ever. And the more--the more thou'lt love Michael,"
said she, dropping her voice.

"I'll try," said the boy, sighing, for he remembered many a harsh
word and blow of which his sister knew nothing. She would have risen
up to go away, but he held her tight, for here and now she was all
his own, and he did not know when such a time might come again. So
the two sat crouched up and silent, till they heard the horn blowing
at the field-gate, which was the summons home to any wanderers
belonging to the farm, and at this hour of the evening, signified