"
"But Will--Will--mother was wed, and she suffered--oh, she did suffer
bitter--and it were then I vowed as no man should call me mate."
Will's face grew dark.
"And you was right," he said. "You was mor'n right--when you thought
of sich as your father, and sich as Dent. Why, Bet, sich fellers as
them ain't men at all--they ain't worthy of the name. I don't want
to say much, Bet; but I ain't of their sort--I could be tender to you,
my dear, and true, true as steel; and your father couldn't touch you
when you was my lawful wife, darling. And you should have the little
lads, and keep the promises you made to your mother. See, Bet, the
moon's shining on us, and there's a beautiful salt taste of the sea
on our lips, and there's all the love that I can give you shining out
of my eyes this yer minute. You make me a promise, Bet, dear--one that
will undo that base one you once vowed to yourself. Forget that
promise--what were cruel and wicked, and a shame, when it came atween
you and me.
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