I am an old broken woman, whose husband was transported for coining, and hung for murder and worse!" "Peace be with him!" said Tom.

"I am not asking who your husband was; I have had twenty years to think about that, and at the end of twenty years, I say, my dear old sweetheart, you are free at last: will you marry me ?" "Impossible!" said Mary.

"All the country-side knows who I am.

Think of the eternal disgrace that clings to me.

Oh, never, never!" "Then you have no objection to me?
eh, cousin ?" "To you, my kind, noble old partner?
Ah, I love and honour you above all men!" "Then," said Tom, putting his arm round her waist, "to the devil with all the nonsense you have just been talking, about eternal disgraces and so forth! I am an honest man and you're an honest woman, and, therefore, what cause or impediment can there be?
Come, Mary, it's no use resisting; my mind is made up, and you MUST!" "Oh, think!" she said; "oh, think only once, before it is too late for ever!" "I have thought," said Tom, "as I told you before, for twenty years; and I ain't likely to alter my opinion in ten minutes.