“Yes, Mr. Bates,” she said, just as she used to when she said the catechism to him and he admonished her.  She had listened to him with that dull half-attention which we give to good-sounding words when our heart is only alert for something for which we yet wait.  She had it firmly in her mind that he was going to say something on which would hang her future fate, that he would either still ask her, in spite of all she had said, to go back with him, or would tell her that he would not have her now, as the American had done.  All her sensibilities lay, as it were, numb with waiting; she had no purpose concerning the answer she would make him; her mind was still full of invective and complaint; it was also full of a dull remorse that might melt into contrition; either or both must break forth if he said that which appealed to words in her.

When Bates saw, however, that the little sermon which he had wrung from his heart with so much pain had not impressed her much, he felt as if he had never known until then the sharpest pain of sorrow, for although he did not know what he had hoped for, there had been hope in proportion to effort, and disappointment, the acutest form of sorrow, cut him to the heart.  He did not moan or bewail, that was not his way.  He stood holding himself stiffly, as was his wont, and pain laid emphasis on the severe and resolute lines upon his face, for a face that has long been lent as a vehicle for stern thoughts does not express a milder influence, although the depths of the heart are broken up.

She looked at his face, and the main drift of what he had said was interpreted by his look; she had expected censure and took for granted that all this was reproof.

“I don’t see, Mr. Bates”—­her tone was full of bitterness—­“that you’ve got any call to stand there handing me over as if I was a leper.”

To which he answered angrily, “Bairn, haven’t I told you once and again that take your sin on my own soul?”

“Well then”—­still in angry complaint—­“what right have you to be looking and talking of me as if nothing was to be expected of me but ill?”

So he believed that it was worse than useless to speak to her.  He drew his hand over his heavy eyebrows.  He thought to himself that he would go home now, that he would start that day or the next and never see her again, and in the decision he began walking away, forgetting the word “good-bye” and all its courtesy, because oblivious of everything except that thought that he was unfit for anything but to go and live out his time in the desolate home.  But when he had got about twenty paces from her he remembered that he had said no farewell, and turned, looked back, and came to her again, his heart beating like a boy’s.

She stood where he had left her, sullen, with head slightly bent, and tearing the same leaves.  Bates recognised her beauty to the full, as much as any other man could have done, but it only hurt him and made him afraid.  He looked at her, timid as a child, yet manfully ignoring his timidity, he tried to smile to her as he said,