THE CITY AND SUBURBAN 345 



to write to her and tell her straight out that— 

 that, well, as a matter of fact, that I want her to 

 marry me. I'm going to tell her that she knows 

 me now as well as ever she'll know me, and that 

 if she doesn't hke the business I'm game and 

 can take her answer and still be friends. We'll 

 all be friends, whatever happens, she and I and 

 you; but I think it's best to make the position 

 clear as soon as possible, for we can't go on like 

 this. And a letter is the best way to do it." 



" You're right," said French. " Faith, the horse 

 has nearly driven everything else out of my mind. 

 It's a queer business the way that girl came to 

 my house and saved my fortune. I tell you 

 straight, she put the come'ither on me so that I'd 

 foUow her through the black bog itseK, if she 

 beckoned me, with both eyes shut. She's a jewel, 

 begad! she's a jewel. Look, now, at what she's 

 done for me: saved and scraped, put me on an 

 allowance of pocket-money — she did that — kept 

 the house together ; and it was she put the idea of 

 taking the horse away from Drumgool into my head. 

 Then again, only for her you would never have 

 come about the place, and what have you done? 

 Why, you've saved me twice and three times over. 

 My dear boy," burst out French, seizing IVIr 

 Dashwood's hand, " it's you that's been the 

 making of me, for if you hadn't nobbled that black 

 beast of a Giveen I'd have been done for entirely, 

 and I hope to God she'll have you and make you 

 happy—-" 



