"Your father was very anxious that I should supplant this young
jowter--"
"O Lord! I never said it."
"Allow me," said the stranger, without deigning to look round,
"to carry on this courtship in my own way. Your father, young woman,
desired--it was none of my suggestion--that I should insinuate myself
into your good graces. I will not conceal from you my plain opinion of
your father's judgment in these matters. I think him a fool."
"Name o' thunder!"
"Farmer, if you interrupt again I must ask you to get out. Young woman,
kindly listen while I make you a formal proposition of marriage.
My name, I have told you, is Zebedee Minards. I was born by London
Docks, but have neither home nor people. I have travelled by land and
sea; slept on silk and straw; drunk wine and the salt water; fought,
gambled, made love, begged my bread; in all, lost much and found much,
in many countries. I am tossed on this coast, where I find you, and
find also a man in my name having hold over you. I think I want to
marry you. Will you give up this other man?"
He pursed up his lips again. With that sense of trifles which is
sharpest when the world suddenly becomes too big for a human being, Ruby
had a curiosity to know what he was whistling.
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