I entreat you to let me return to the house alone." Her voice sounded more and more broken as she spoke: sobs were evidently rising in her throat.

He pulled himself together, feeling that it were unmanly to worry her now, when emotion was so obviously overmastering her.
"Forgive me, sweet lady," he said quite gently, as he rose from his knees.

"I said more than I had any right to say.

I entreat you to forgive the poor, presuming peasant who hath dared to raise his eyes to the fairy princess of his dreams.

I pray you to try and forget all that hath happened to-night beneath the shadows of these elms--and only to remember one thing: that my life--my lonely, humble, unimportant life--is yours ...