e thi as aw love thi. Aw'll
work for thi throo morn to neet, an tha shall be th' happiest woman i'th
world if its i' my paar to mak thi soa. What says ta? Aw willn't hurry
thee if tha wants time to think abaat it,--but tell me,--is ther
onnybody at tha likes better?"

"Why, Dick, tha's fairly knockt th' wind aght o' me. Tha sewerly forgets
at awm a widdy. A young chap like thee doesn't owt to be lukkin after
widdys, when ther's soa monny single young lasses abaat waitin for
chaps."

"It'd mak noa difference to me if tha wor a widdy twenty times ovver.
Tha'rt th' grandest woman aw ivver met, an if aw ivver do wed it'll be
thee. Come, nah, tell me,--we havn't mich time befoor th' engine starts.
Is ther onnybody tha likes better nor me. Spaik aght. If ther is aw'll
bide it as weel as aw can, an aw'll nivver trubble thi agean."

"Noa, Dick, ther isn't. That's gospel trewth. Ther's nubdy livin at aw
like better nor thee, an aw dooant know another aw like as weel, but tha
knows when it comes to weddin, it mun be summat moor nor likin th' next
time. It'll have to be lovin. An aw dooant love thee weel enuff, but aw
may leearn to do, but tha mun gie me time."

"Yond's th' engine startin, aw mun be off;--an bless thi for what tha's
sed. Aw'll mak misen worthy on thi, an tha shall love me at th' finish."

That afternoon Dick seemed to be walking on air. His face was flushed,
and his heart beat until his voice was so unsteady that those who had to
speak with him eyed him curiously. As he passed Susy's loom she gave him
a look so full of love and sympathy that it required an effort to pass
on to his other duties.

When the day's work was ended, he waited, as was his custom, for Jack,
though he would much rather have gone home alone. He felt selfishly
happy, and he wanted to nurse his secret where no eye could read his
exultation. It was a something sacred,--too sacred to be shared even
with Jack.

As they walked along, they saw Susy tripping away, some distance in
advance.

"Yond's Susy, aw see," said Jack. "Aw could tell her onnywhear. Shoo
doesn't walk like th' rest on em. Aw wonder if shoo'll ivver think abaat
gettin wed agean."

"That's a matter at we've nowt to do wi. Aw suppooas shoo'll pleas
hersen," said Dick, in a tone that fairly startled Jack.

"Summat must ha gooan wrang wi' him at his wark," thought Jack, and they
walked along, only now and then giving utterance to some common place
remark. Dick's conscienc