He looked to this side
and that for some friendly gap or opening in the hedge so as to take
himself out of the road, but there was no way of escape at that spot,
and he had to pass her, and so casting down his eyes he walked on,
wishing he could sink into the earth out of her sight. But she would not
allow him to pass; she put herself directly in his way and spoke.
"What's the matter with 'ee, Johnnie, that 'ee don't want to meet me and
hardly say a word when I speak to 'ee?"
He could not find a word in reply; he stood still, his face crimson, his
eyes on the ground.
"Johnnie, dear, what is it?" she asked, coming closer and putting her
hand on his arm.
Then he looked up, and seeing the sweet compassion in her eyes, he could
no longer keep the secret of his pain from her.
"'Tis 'ee, Marty," he said. "Thee'll never want I--there's others 'ee'll
like better. 'Tisn't for I to say a word about that, I'm thinking, for I
be--just nothing. An'--an'--I be going away from the village, Marty, and
I'll never come back no more."
"Oh, Johnnie, don't 'ee say it! Would 'ee go and break my heart? Don't
'ee know I've always loved 'ee since we were little mites together?"
And thus it came about that Johnnie, most miserable of men, was all at
once made happy beyond his wildest dreams.
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