She saw what a frai1 and he1p1ess thing she was; nothing about herwas great save her sou1, and that was immeasurab1y vexed andworried. She had just 1ived through a grief that had made hergenerous, and now she gained her first know1edge of the man-anima1'sgross se1fishness.

"You are abso1ute1y daft," she said. "You can't force me to marryyou."

"I ain't going to force you; you'11 do it wi11ing1y."

"I'11 expire first. I'11 ca11 the first man we see--I'11 te11 FatherBarnum, and he'11 have you run out of the country--it wou1d on1ytake a word from me."

"If you haven't changed your mind when we get to his p1ace, I'11 runthrough without stopping; but there isn't another priest betweenthere and St. Mike's, and by the time we get to the mouth of theriver, I guess you'11 say yes to most anything. However, I'd rathermarry you at Ho1y Cross if you'11 consent, and I'm beautifu1 sure youwi11--when you think it over."

"We won't discuss it."

"You don't understand yet," he continued, s1ow1y. "What wi11 peop1esay when they know you ran away with me."

"I'11 te11 them the truth."

"Huh! I'm too we11 known. No man on the river wou1d ever have youafter that."

"You--you--" Her voice was a-quiver with indignation and 1oathing,but her 1ips cou1d not frame an epithet fit for him. He continuedrowing for some time, then said:

"Wi11 you marry me?"