"

"No you won't, father. And why should you? He has done nothing wrong
to you or me. I wouldn't have him if it was ever so."

"It's all been your fault, Polly."

"Yes;--my fault; that I wouldn't be made what you call a lady; to be
taken away, so that I'd never see any more of you and mother!" Then
she put her hand gently on his shoulder. "I couldn't stand that,
father."

"I'd make him let you come to us."

"A wife must obey her husband, father. Mother always obeyed you."

"No, she didn't. She's again me now."

"Besides, I don't want to be a lady," said Polly, seeing that she had
better leave that question of marital obedience; "and I won't be a
lady. I won't be better than you and mother."

"You've been brought up better."

"I'll show my breeding, then, by being true to you, and true to the
man I love. What would you think of your girl, if she was to give her
hand to a--gentleman, when she'd given her heart to a--shoemaker?"

"Oh, d---- the shoemaker!"

"No, father, I won't have it. What is there against Ontario? He's a
fine-hearted fellow, as isn't greedy after money,--as 'd kiss the
very ground I stand on he's that true to me, and is a tradesman as
yourself. If we had a little place of our own, wouldn't Ontario be
proud to have you there, and give you the best of everything; and
wouldn't I wait upon you, just only trying to know beforehand every
tittle as you'd like to have. And if there was to be babies, wouldn't
they be brought up to love you. If I'd gone with that young man down
to his fine place, do you think it would have been like that? How 'd
I've felt when he was too proud to let his boy know as you was my
father?" Neefit turned on his bed and groaned. He was too ill at ease
as to his inner man to argue the subject from a high point of view,
or to assert that he was content to be abased himself in order that
his child and grandchildren might be raised in the world. "Father,"
said Polly, "you have always been kind to me. Be kind to me now."

"The young 'uns is always to have their own way," said Neefit.

"Hasn't my way been your way, father?"

"Not when you wouldn't take the Captain when he come to Margate."

"I didn't love him, father. Dear father, say the word. We haven't
been happy lately;--have we, father?"

"I ain't been very 'appy," said Neefit, bursting out into sobs.

She put her face upon his brow and kissed it. "Father, let us be
happy again. Ontario is down-stairs,--in the parlo