No, no, my sweet lass, you are not married.

But think--it is more than seven long years since we met on the hills above Playmore, and you put your hand in mine and said we should be friends for all time.

It is near three years since a letter came to me from you, and in the time I have made progress.
I did not go to the United States, as you asked me to do.

Is it not plain I could not?
My only course was to avoid you.

You see, your mother knows the truth--knows that I was jailed for killing your father and her divorced husband.