"Your father told him to take you out a-walking before my very eyes! Was I to bear that? Think of it, Polly. You mayn't care for me, and I don't suppose you do; but you may understand what my feelings were. What would you have thought of me if I'd stayed there, smoking, and borne it quiet,--and you going about with that young man? I'll tell you what it is, Polly, I couldn't bear it, and I won't. There;--and now you know what I mean." At this point in his speech he took off his hat and waved it in the air. "I won't bear it. There are things a man can't bear,--can't bear,--can't bear. Oh, Polly! if you could only be brought to understand what it is that I feel!" After all, he didn't do it so very badly. There was just a tear in the corner of Polly's eye, though Polly was very careful that he shouldn't see it. And Polly did know well enough that he was in earnest,--that he was, in fact, true. But then he was gawky and ungainly. It was not that he was a shoemaker. Could he have had his own wits, and danced like the gasfitter, he might have won her still, against Ralph Newton, with all his blood and white hands. But poor Ontario was, as regarded externals, so ill a subject for a great passion! "And where have you been, Polly?" said her father, as soon as she entered the house. "I have been walking with Ontario Moggs," said Polly boldly. "What have you been saying to him? I won't have you walk with Ontario Moggs. I and your mother 'll have to fall out if this kind of thing goes on." "Don't be silly, father." "What do you mean by that, miss?" "It is silly. Why shouldn't I walk with him? Haven't I known him all my life, and walked with him scores of times? Isn't it silly, father? Don't I know that if I told you I loved Ontario Moggs, you'd let me marry him to-morrow?" "He'd have to take you in what you stand up in." "He wouldn't desire anything better. I'll say that for him. He's true and honest. I'd love him if I could,--only, somehow I don't." "You've told him you didn't,--once and for all?"