"Your answer I accept, and can bear," he retorted with dignity, "but not your misjudgment of my feelings. That would be cruel--if you were capable of cruelty. Permit me at least to say that it shows an ignorance of my real nature which cuts me to the quick. I have expressed myself but poorly if you can still doubt my readiness to devote my life to you--ay, or to lay it down if need be for your sake! There is nothing I would not do for you. The lightest service I should esteem my privilege." The widow laughed, but not unkindly; on the contrary, her hand slid through the major's arm with her words, as if to sheath their edge. "There was one thing you once promised to do for me," she said. "It is not done yet!" "I know what you mean," he groaned with an inward oath. "Your assigned gardener!" "Exactly." "I tried my best." "Could you not try again?" "If I did," said the major hoarsely, "would it make any difference to the answer you would give me if I said again what I have said to-night? I tell you candidly I begin to feel jealous of that convict. I shall be glad to see his back." The woman gave a little nervous laugh, but no answer. "Would it make any difference?" he repeated. "I cannot bargain like that," sighed the widow, turning away. "And you are right!" exclaimed the other, hotly flushing. "I unsay that; I'm ashamed of it. But I'll get that ticket-of-leave this summer, or I'll never look you in the face again!" And this time Thomas Blacker went to work in earnest; but then a year had passed since his former half-hearted attempt of foregone futility; and the forlorn hope of that season was the easy goal of this. The major, without doubt, stood well at Government House; he was secretly engaged upon plans for the fortifications of the harbour, and had the ear of his Excellency in magisterial matters as well. What he had mentioned only tentatively and not altogether seriously the year before, he now urged as a peculiarly deserving case. And in no more than a day or two he had the pleasure of calling at the cottage, with a paper for the widow to sign, and of meeting the gardener on the path as he was coming away. "I suppose you know what I have here, my man?" cried the major, tapping a breast inflated with conscious benevolence. "The mistress has mentioned it," replied the man, trembling in an instant. "I am deeply grateful, sir, to you. I little thought to get it yet." "Nor have you, sir, nor have you," said the major briskly. "Your ticket's no ticket till it's signed by the Governor and safe in your hands. However," he added, with a touch of the self-importance he enjoyed, "I have promised your mistress to use my influence in your behalf, so by the end of the week you may very possibly hear from me again."