"
"But she can't, Will," said Hester; "the condition was ef you was set
free. Dent did not set you free. He locked you up firmer nor ever in
jail, so it ain't likely as Bet, seeing as she loved you, 'ud give
herself to him when he only deceived her, and done you an injury?"
"But, a while back," said Will, with a sad smile, "you misdoubted Bet's
love for me. I never misdoubted it, nor ever will; but I do misdoubt
Dent. He's a coward and a sneak, and deep is no word for him. Ef he
wants Bet--and I know he wants her, for he let out as much to me--he'll
move heaven and earth to win her, and he'd think nought of deceiving
her, and telling her dozens of lies. What does a girl like Bet Granger
know of the ways of the world? She has been up and down in the slums,
you say, all her life; but there's some as evil can't touch, and she's
one of them. Dent, he's full of wickedness, and he knows wicked ways
here and wicked ways in other places--so how could a gel like Bet be
a match for him? She's brave as a lion.
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