The White Cottage (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ..."Luce," he said, "I have they fifty pounds by me still." She smiled across at him, only half grasping his meaning. "What fifty pounds be thic?" she asked. There was a moment's pause while Mark tried ineffectually to smother his resentment at her lack of comprehension. He had imagined her tracking him thought by thought, and, as it were, fingering the money over and over in her mind. "The lil' place looks half starved," he exclaimed contemptuously. She did not answer, but, bending down, kissed the sleeping child. His face contracted, anger and misery fought for possession of his heart. "Do you love the chile?" he asked in a rough voice. She rose and laid the baby in the cradle before replying. "Lad," she said, putting her hand upon his arm, "do be friends wi' me, do, and then I do think I shall have nothing left to wish for." "Friends," he repeated, shaking himself free. "Who cares aught for sich ez thic?" An expression half sad, half tender, came into her face. "Us wor niver more'n friends, Mark," she answered gently; "but us have been frienda iver since us wor childer." His heart rose in rebellion against her. It seemed to him that she was trying to cheapen his love, to class it out from being love at all. "'Tis zommat a mort different from thic that I veel for 'ee, and you know it," he replied. She turned from him to the open window. "Zims ez if you must be mistook, lad," she said softly. He did not answer. The pity which filled him a few short moments back had departed, and in its place a dull anger burnt in his heart. For the first time the desire came to him to punish this woman who was so indifferent to his love, to teach her through suffering the lesson that kindness failed to instil. "I must be gwaying," he exclaimed. "I've zommat...