Now, in six months much may happen; who knows what will happen ?'" "Were you present when you heard all this, Marie ?" I asked.
"No, Allan; I was the other side of the reed partition.

But at those words I entered and said: 'My father and Cousin Hernan, please understand that there is one thing which will never happen.' "'What is that ?' asked my cousin.
"'It will never happen that I shall marry you, Hernan,' I replied.
"'Who knows, Marie, who knows ?' he said.
"'I do, Hernan,' I answered.

'Even if Allan were to die to-morrow, I would not marry you, either then or twenty years hence.

I am glad that he has saved your life, but henceforth we are cousins, nothing more.' "'You hear what the girl tells us,' said my father; 'why do you not give up the business?
What is the use of kicking against the pricks ?' "'If one wears stout boots and kicks hard enough, the pricks give way,' said Hernan.

'Six months is a long time, my uncle.' "'It may be so, cousin,' I said; 'but remember that neither six months nor six years, nor six thousand years, are long enough to make me marry any man except Allan Quatermain, who has just rescued you from death.