Lord Ullin's
daughter"--you know. We used to recite it on examination
exhibition. I didn't know Hanford could talk like that. His words
were real pretty, kind of sorrowful you know. And it all come over
me that you ought to know about it. You're married of course, and
can't help it now, but 'taint every girl that has a boy care for
her like that from the time she's a baby with a red hood on, and
you ought to know 'bout it, fer it wasn't Hanford's fault he
didn't have time to tell you. He's just been living fer you fer a
number of years, and its kind of hard on him. 'Course you may not
care, being you're married and have a fine house and lots of
clo'es of your own and a good time, but it does seem hard for him.
It seems as if somebody ought to comfort him. I'd like to try if
you don't mind. He does seem to like to talk about you to me, and
I feel so sorry for him I guess I could comfort him a little, for
it seems as if it would be the nicest thing in the world to have
some one like you that way for years, just as they do in books,
only every time I think about being a comfort to him I think he
belongs to you and it ain't right. So Marsh, you just speak out
and say if your willing I should try to comfort him a little and
make up to him fer what he lost in you, being as you're married
and fixed so nice yourself.

"Of course I know I aint pretty like you, nor can't hold my head
proud and step high as you always did, even when you was little,
but I can feel, and perhaps that's something. Anyhow Hanford's
been down three times to talk about you to me, and ef you don't
mind I'm going to let him come some more. But if you mind the
leastest little bit I want you should say so, for things are mixed
in this world and I don't want to get to trampling on any other
person's feelings, much less you who have always been my best
friend and always will be as long as I live I guess. 'Member how
we used to play house on the old flat stone in the orchard, and
you give me all the prettiest pieces of china with sprigs on 'em?
I aint forgot that, and never will. I shall always say you made
the prettiest bride I ever saw, no matter how many more I see, and
I hope you won't forget me. It's lonesome here without you. If it
wasn't for comforting Hanford I shouldn't care much for anything.
I can't thin