I did not answer him. I left it to him to gather from my silence that it was he who barred the way to a better kind of life for the poor girl; that it was her entire devotion to him that kept her down. 'I know what you're drivin' at; it's me as 'inders 'em,' he said, with a sneer. 'Well, that's nothink new. Blade-o'-Grass and me's 'eerd that often enough. The way they'd 'elp 'er is by tellin' 'er to cut away from me. I don't think the old gal 'd do that. I'd bet a penny _you've_ been tryin' to persuade 'er.' 'On the contrary; I have begged her to ask you to do something that will bring her closer to you.' 'Gammon!' he sneered. 'What is it you wanted 'er to ask me? 'That you should marry her.' He looked at me in blank wonder. 'Marry 'er!' he exclaimed. He was evidently puzzled, and he ransacked his mind for motives and reasons; but all his cunning wit could not assist him. 'It's me as 'inders people from 'elpin' Blade-o'-Grass, and yet the parson wants me to many 'er!' I saw this expressed in his face, and I saw also a deep suspicion that some treachery to himself lay behind the proposition. 'I'll think on it,' he said aloud. 'Will you take 'er a letter from me?' 'Yes; I will write it for you if you like.' 'Thank you for nothink!' he replied with a leer. 'I'll get it done through the governor. He'll 'ave to read it, you know, before it goes. Will you take your solemn oath you won't open it?' 'I promise you not to open it.' 'And you won't read it to 'er? You'll give it to the old gal 'erself, and tell 'er she's got to git some one else to read it? I made this promise as well; and when I left with the letter, I think he was half inclined to believe that my words and sympathy were genuine. I gave an account of this interview to Mrs. Silver. 'I have been thinking all the morning of the poor girl,' she said. 'My servant is going to leave me to get married. I will take Blade-o'-Grass in her place, if she will come. It will be a home for her, and I may be able to do her some good.' The proposal delighted me, and I went at once to Blade-o'-Grass to acquaint her with it. She thanked me and Mrs. Silver most gratefully, but said she could not accept the offer. 'No, sir, not to save my life.' 'But why?' I asked in grief and annoyance. 'Your refusal is unreasonable.' 'You don't understand, sir. Read Tom's letter. You'll see what part of it I mean.' She gave me the letter I had brought her from Tom Beadle. The words she referred to were these: 'When I come out, we'll get married. And mind! So long as you are true to me, I will be true to you. But if you run away from Stoney-alley, and go with them friends of yours, I shall know what that means.' 'It means, sir,' said Blade-o'-Grass, 'as Tom'll think I've deserted 'im. So you see, sir, I can't go to Mrs. Silver's. Don't you fear for me, sir; Mr. Wirtue is a real good friend to me now; he's took the next room to this, and he's always bringin' things to me.'