“My dear Jane: The doctor tells me I haven’t long to live and so I am doing this, the meanest thing I think I’ve ever done to you. I’m leaving you the Jordan money. Since my husband died there has been just one person I could get to care about, that’s Ben, who was my baby so long after all the others had forgotten how to love me.” (_He mumbles the letter to himself, then brings out the words_) “Hold out her heart and let him trample on it, as he has on mine.” [_Slowly he breaks down, sobbing bitterly._ JANE Don’t, Ben---- BEN Look what I done to her. Look what I done. JANE (_hand on his shoulder_) Oh, my dear--my dear! BEN I did love her, mor’n she thought, mor’n I ever knew how to tell her! JANE (_kneels beside him_) It wasn’t all your fault--you were a lonely boy--she never said much--she was like you, Ben, ashamed to show the best that’s in you. BEN (_bitterly_) The best in me. I ain’t fit that you should touch me Jane--you’d better go. JANE Not if you need me, Ben, and I think you do. BEN I love you--mor’n I ever thought I could--tenderer--truer--but I’m no good--You couldn’t trust me--I couldn’t trust myself. JANE Spring’s coming, Ben, everywhere, to you and me, if you would only try. BEN Can a feller change--Just ’cause he wants to? JANE I don’t want you changed. I want you what you are, the best of you--just a man that loves me--if you do love me, Ben. BEN Can’t you help me to be fit? JANE I’m going to do the thing I always meant to do--Good times and bad, Ben, I’m going to share with you. BEN God knows I---- JANE Hush, Ben--I don’t want another promise. BEN What do you want? JANE You said I was a good sport once--You shook hands on what we’d do to bring this old place back--there’s plenty to be done. I’ll stay and help you if you want me. BEN A good sport? (_He takes her hand_) I’ll say you’re all of that. [_Hannah enters._ HANNAH If you ain’t careful you’ll miss that train. JANE That’s just what I want to do. HANNAH You ain’t going? JANE I’m never going, Hannah. HANNAH You going to marry him? BEN You bet your life she is! HANNAH I guess you’ll be mighty happy--marriage changes folks--and any change in him will be a big improvement. [_She picks up Jane’s bag and exits--Jane and Ben laugh._ TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Icebound, by Owen Davis