Polly was crying quietly while the dying woman was speaking. The
doctor, on leaving that morning, had told her that he could do no
more and that Mrs. Marner was sinking rapidly. Kneeling now beside
the bed she promised to do all that her adopted mother asked her,
adding, "and I shall never, never leave feyther as long as he
lives."

The woman smiled faintly.

"Many a girl ha' said that afore now, Polly, and ha' changed her
moind when the roight man asked her. Don't ee make any promises
that away, lass. 'Tis natural that, when a lassie's time comes,
she should wed; and if Luke feels loanly here, why he's got it in
his power to get another to keep house for him. He be but a little
over forty now; and as he ha' lived steady and kept hisself away
from drink, he be a yoonger man now nor many a one ten year yoonger.
Don't ye think to go to sacrifice your loife to hissen. And now,
child, read me that chapter over agin, and then I think I could
sleep a bit."

Before morning Eliza Marner had passed away, and Polly became the
head of her uncle's house. Two years had passed, and so far Mary
Powlett showed no signs of leaving the house, which, even the many
women in the village, who envied her for her prettiness and neatness
and disliked her for what they called her airs, acknowledged that
she managed well. But it was not from lack of suitors. There were
at least half a dozen stalwart young croppers who would gladly have
paid court to her had there been the smallest sign on her part of
willingness to accept their attentions; but Polly, though bright