"Now how about ye? Ye got the girl ye wanted. Ye own a guid farm
that would make ye a living, and save ye money every year. Ye have
done juist what ye pleased, and as far as I could, I have helped
ye. I've had my eye on ye pretty close, Jimmy, and if ~ye are a
happy mon, I dinna but I'm content as I am. What's your trouble?
Did ye find ye dinna love Mary after ye won her? Did ye murder
your mither or blacken your soul with some deadly sin? Mon! If I
had in my life what ye every day neglect and torture, Heaven would
come doon, and locate at the foot of the Rainbow fra me. But, ye
are no happy, Jimmy. Let's get at the root of the matter. While ye
are unhappy, Mary will be also. We are responsible to God for her,
and between us, she is empty armed, near to death, and almost dumb
with misery. I have juist sworn to her on the cross she loves that
if she will make ane more effort, and get well, we will make her
happy. Now, how are we going to do it?"
Another great groan burst from Jimmy, and he shivered as if with a chill.
"Let us look ourselves in the face," Dannie went on, "and see what
we lack. What can we do fra her? What will bring a song to her
lips, licht to her beautiful eyes, love to her heart, and a living
child to her arms? Wake up, mon! By God, if ye dinna set to work
with me and solve this problem, I'll shake a solution out of ye!
What I must suffer is my own, but what's the matter with ye, and
why, when she loved and married ye, are ye breakin' Mary's heart?
Answer me, mon!"
Dannie reached over and snatched the hat from Jimmy's forehead, and
stared at an inert heap.
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