_Reu._ Reflect. Sir Jasper will take her from thee for ever--thou wilt never behold her again. He will drive thee from thy forge, and thou wilt be a desolate old vagabond, while she is learning day by day to forget thee, and to give her love to another. Thou refusest? It is well done. Brave old man! Thou shrinkest not from the troubles that environ thee, though they threaten to crush thee utterly; and so I say, brave old man! (_Going._) _Dan._ Nay--stay--one moment--give me time to think. How am I to do this thing? And yet--I will consent--that is, if Dorothy will. I will ask her--nay, I will persuade her. God forgive me! _Enter DOROTHY._ Dorothy, my child, come hither. I have somewhat to say to thee. I--I am not long for this world, and when I am gone---- Oh, Dorothy, bear with what I have to say! This man--this Reuben Haines--he loveth thee, and would make thee his wife. _Dor._ Oh, father---- _Dan._ Ay, I know what thou wouldst say--thou lovest Geoffrey, but bear in mind, he loves thee not--he spake slightingly of thee--he did deny thee--he loveth other women; thou didst hear him say as much. See, this man will love thee better than Geoffrey. He--he is not a young man--he is of sober age, and a man of good substance. Oh, Dorothy, my child, have pity on me! _Dor._ I cannot answer--I am lost in wonder. _Dan._ Dorothy, my little girl--for a reason which I canna tell thee, it concerns my life--ay, my life--that thou shouldst take this man. I--I have been a kind father to thee, have I not? I have asked naught of thee till now. Oh, my child, it is for thine happiness as well as for mine. If thou didst but know! If thou didst but know! _Reu._ Behold, maiden, I am worth consideration. I am not as other old men are. In all but years I am a boy--a very boy. _Dor._ My father, I know naught of the sorrow that hangs over thee, but it must needs be heavy if thou canst suffer this man to say this thing to me! _Dan._ Dorothy--have patience; if to yield up my life would serve thee, I would yield it, ten times told--the time may soon come when I shall prove thee this--for I canna live alone! _Dor._ Father, I know naught of this man but what is ill--nevertheless, as thou hast been to me as my father, and I to thee as thy child, bound in all lawful things to obey thee, so will I obey thee even in this. Sir, I cannot love you, for my heart is given, but if my father bids me, I must needs do his bidding. (_Kneels._) Oh, my father, if the breaking of my heart can save thee, it is thine to break! _Reu._ It is dutifully spoken. It is a bargain. Give me thine hand on it, Dan’l Druce. Set thine heart at rest--it is settled. _Dan._ (_furiously_). Ay, it is settled. Get thee hence, now and for ever, and do thy worst. Dorothy, forgive me--’twas but for a moment I wavered--I am strong again now. (_To REUBEN._) Thou hast a master--thou owest him a duty. Go, do it--I’ll do mine. We will wait here, she and I, and when the blow comes, we’ll bear it together.