"What! Morva talk about her sweetheart as the English girls do! No,
thou art too modest, lass."

"That is quite different," said Morva. "I do not want to talk about
my--my--"

"Lover," said Will.

"Yes, but I don't want any longer to deceive my best friends. Let me
go, Will, or let us be married soon. I am willing for either."

"Indeed, lass," said Will, beginning to hedge, "I would almost think
thou hadst found another sweetheart, only I know how seldom any other
man comes across thy path, unless indeed Gethin the thief has stolen
thy love from me. Morva, dost love any other man?"

"Gethin is no thief," she answered hotly, "and thou knowest it as well
as I do. Thou knowest his nature; 'twould be impossible for him to do
a mean thing."

"Thou hast a high opinion of him," said Will scornfully. "Is it he,
then, who hast stolen thine heart?"

Morva walked with bent head, pulling at her apron-strings.

"I am not saying that," she answered, in a very low tone, "but I wish
to be free, or marry thee soon."

It was now Will's turn to be anxious. The possibility of Morva's
loving any other man had never before disturbed him, but now her words,
her attitude, all impressed him with a strong suspicion, and a flame of
anger and jealousy rushed through his veins.

"Free!" he said, "after all thy promises to me--free to marry another
man! Is it that, Morva?" and as he spoke his hot temper gathered
strength. "Never!" he said, "I will never free thee from thy promise.
Thou canst break it an thou wishest, and break my heart at the same
time; 'twill be a fine return for all our kindness to thee, 'twill be a
grand ending to all thy faithful vows!"

"I am willing to marry thee, Will," she said, "if thou wilt let it be
soon."

"Marry thee soon! How can that be, Morva?--a student without home or
money, and a girl without a penny in the world! What madness thou art
talking. I only ask thee to have patience for a year or two, and I
will have a home for thee. And who is thy new sweetheart?"

"I have no sweetheart; but, Will, I want to be free."

"And I will never give thee back thy freedom. Take it if thou lik'st.
The absent are always forgotten. How could I expect thee to be true?"

Morva began to cry silently.

"I see I have set my heart upon a fickle, cruel woman, one who, after
years of faithful promises, forgets me, and wishes to take back her
vows. I have but to leave her for two months, and she at o