Stop it!
Give me that money and let me go."
Hawkes did not despair. He paused.
"Don't give your answer too hastily. I know it must seem abrupt--one
might almost say BRUTAL. But _I_ am alone in the world--YOU are
alone. Neither of us have contracted a regard for anyone else. And
in addition to that--there would be no occasion to marry until you
are twenty-one. There!"
And he gazed at her with what he fondly hoped were eyes of sincere
adoration.
"Not until I'm twenty-one! Look at that now!" replied Peg--it seemed
to Mr. Hawkes, somewhat flippantly.
"Well! What do you say?" he asked vibrantly.
"What do I say, to WHAT?"
"Will you consent to an engagement?"
"With YOU?"
"Yes, Miss O'Connell, with me."
Peg suddenly burst into a paroxysm of laughter.
Hawkes' face clouded and hardened.
The gloomier he looked, the more hearty were Peg's ebullitions of
merriment.
Finally, when the hysterical outburst had somewhat abated, he asked
coldly:
"Am I to consider that a refusal?"
"Ye may. What would _I_ be doin', marryin' the likes of you? Answer
me that?"
His passion began to dwindle, his ardour to lessen.
"That is final?" he queried.
"Absolutely, completely and entirely final." .
Not only did all HOPE die in Mr.
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