terly, but
I happen to love the man who's going to be my husband better than anyone
in the world. He's been good, and I'm not going to have his goodness put
upon. He's marrying a woman who's had trouble and scandal in her life,
but at least he's not going to have the shame of that woman's sister. So
you can choose between me and yourself."

"It ain't between you and myself. It's between you and my child. It's
for my child's sake I won't marry Bertie Hill."

"My dear Joanna, are you quite an ass? Can't you see that the person who
will suffer most for all this is your child? I didn't bring in that
argument before, as I didn't think it would appeal to you--but surely
you see that the position of an illegitimate child ..."

"Is much better than the child of folk who don't love each other, and
have only married because it was coming. I'm scared myself, and I can
scare Bert, and we can get married--but what'll that be? He don't love
me--I don't love him. He don't want to marry me--I don't want to marry
him. He'll never forgive me, and all our lives he'll be throwing it up
to me--and he'll be hating the child, seeing as it's only because of it
we're married, and he'll make it miserable. Oh, you don't know Bertie as
I know him--I don't say as it's all his fault, poor boy, I reckon his
mother didn't raise him properly--but you should hear him speak to his
mother and sister, and know what he'd be as a husband and father. I tell
you, he ain't fit to be the father of a child."

"And are you fit to be the mother?" Ellen sneered.

"Maybe I ain't. But the point is, I am the mother, nothing can change
that. And reckon I can fight, and keep the worst off. Oh, I know it
ain't easy, and it ain't right; and I'll suffer for it, and the worst
till be that my child ull have to suffer too. But I tell you it shan't
suffer more than I can help. Reckon I shan't manage so badly. I'll raise
it among strangers, and I'll have a nice little bit of money to live on,
coming to me from the farm, even when I've paid you a share, as I shall,
as is fitting. I'll give my child every chance I can."

"Then it's a choice between your child and me. If you do this mad
thing, Joanna, you'll have to go. I can't have you ever coming near me
and Tip--it isn't only for my own sake--it's for his."

"Reckon we're both hurting each other for somebody else's sake. But I
ain't angry with you, Ellen, same as you're angry with me."

"I am angry with you--I can't help