“I don’t suppose as any one else will want to marry me,” replied the girl, humbly, “I knows as I ain’t much to look at, nor clever, nor nothink of that sort, but I loved ’im, Sir, true, only ’e didn’t seem to vally it!” “No! He was a fool,” said the Professor, “but all men are not the same, Hannah! There are plenty that may want to marry you yet--and I am one!” Hannah looked up quickly, as if she did not believe she could have heard aright. “I begs your pardin, Sir, what did you say?” “I said that _I_ would marry you, if you are willing, Hannah, and then you will at least be provided for, for life!” “But you’re quite an old man,” replied the girl, naïvely. Ricardo winced under the truth. “You are right,” he answered, presently, “I am old, at least compared with that young cub who has kicked you off. But men older than myself marry young wives every day, and I should make you a kind husband. I am a gentleman also--you know that without my telling you--and a gentleman raises the woman he marries, to his own position, and though I am not a rich man, I am better off than you would ever be if you married a man of your own standing. I am a very lonely man now, Hannah, and you are a kind, amiable girl, and I am sure you would make me a good wife. What do you say to my proposal? Shall we be married?” “You’re joking with me, Sig-nor,” said Hannah, “it can’t never be!” “Why not?” inquired Ricardo. “O! ’cos I’m so different from you every ways, and you’d be ashamed to say I was your wife. And what would the Doctor say, too?” “Never mind the Doctor! This is a matter that concerns you and me only. I don’t mean that we should go on differently from what we are doing now. I am not rich enough to keep a servant to wait upon you! You would have to look after the house and get the breakfast, just as you do now. Only--you would be my wife and bear my name, and if I am ever better off than I am at present, you will share my good fortune with me.” “O! I’d be glad and proud to do all I can for you and the Doctor, Sig-nor,--now and allays--” replied the girl. “Only--for ’tother--why I can’t speak like a lady--you’d laugh at me for my hignorance and I’d be shamed to open my mouth afore you, if so be I was, what you say.” “I know you have not had any advantages in the way of education, Hannah, but I should be willing to teach you many things, and being always with me, and hearing me talk, you would soon improve yourself. Is it a bargain, or not?” “O! lor! Sir, I don’t know what to say, sure,” cried Hannah, in a frightened voice. “It’s a honner, I know, but it don’t seem nateral-like. And I’m not sure as it would be right, neither, for I can’t ’elp thinking of Joe, and his falseness to me, and I can’t promise to give it up, neither!”