She is an orphan--so am I; and if you don't care much for her, and if she will have me--" Harry looked gravely at Jack, and let him talk on without trying to stop him.

"Don't you begin to feel jealous, Harry ?" asked Jack in a more serious tone.
"Not at all," answered Harry quietly.
"But if you don't marry Nell yourself, you surely can't expect her to remain a spinster ?" "I expect nothing," said Harry.
A movement of the ladder machinery now gave the two friends the opportunity--one to go up, the other down the shaft.

However, they remained where they were.
"Harry," quoth Jack, "do you think I spoke in earnest just now about Nell ?" "No, that I don't, Jack." "Well, but now I will!" "You?
speak in earnest ?" "My good fellow, I can tell you I am quite capable of giving a friend a bit of advice." "Let's hear, then, Jack!" "Well, look here! You love Nell as heartily as she deserves.

Old Simon, your father, and old Madge, your mother, both love her as if she were their daughter.

Why don't you make her so in reality?
Why don't you marry her ?" "Come, Jack," said Harry, "you are running on as if you knew how Nell felt on the subject." "Everybody knows that," replied Jack, "and therefore it is impossible to make you jealous of any of us.