But your father was more under his mother's influence: proud lad as he was, he feared her; and when she discovered his love for me, there was such a scene between them as no man will go through twice in his lifetime.

I have no excuse to make for marrying him secretly except the old, old one, Stephen.

I loved him, loved him as women have loved, and will love, from the beginning to the end of time." "Dear mother, there was no wrong in that.

But why did you let the world think you loved a man beneath you?
an uneducated shepherd like my reputed father?
That wronged not only you, but those behind and those after you." "We were afraid of many things, and we wished to spare the friendship between our fathers.

There were many other reasons, scarcely worth repeating now." "And what became of the shepherd ?" "He was not Cumberland born.