--Well, he is a good fellow, and you will help him out of it!
You look up as he goes on with his story;--you grow perplexed
yourself;--you scarce believe your own ears.
----"Nelly?"--Is Will talking of Nelly?
"Yes, sir,--Nelly."
----"What!--and you have told all this to Nelly--that you love her?"
"I have, sir."
"And she says"--
"That I must speak with you, sir."
"Bless my soul!--But she's a good girl;"--and the old man wipes his
eyes.
----"Nell!--are you there?"
And she comes,--blushing, lingering, yet smiling through it all.
----"And you could deceive your old father, Nell"--(very fondly.)
Nelly only clasps your hand in both of hers.
"And so you loved Will all the while?"
----Nelly only stoops to drop a little kiss of pleading on your
forehead.
----"Well, Nelly," (it is hard to speak roundly,) "give me your
hand;--here, Will,--take it:--she's a wild girl;--be kind to her, Will."
"God bless you, sir!"
And Nelly throws herself, sobbing, upon your bosom.
----"Not here,--not here now, Nell!--Will is yonder!"
----Sobbing, sobbing still! Nelly, Nelly,--who would have thought that
your merry face covered such a heart of tenderness!
III.
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