"Don't be foolish, John. Such a creature! Why, she might be a duke's daughter, to hear you speak. And what proof more would you have, I wonder, of her caring for you? I can believe she has had a struggle with her aristocratic way of viewing things; but I like her the better for seeing clearly at last. It is a good deal for me to say," said Mrs. Thornton, smiling slowly, while the tears stood in her eyes; "for after to-night, I stand second. It was to have you to myself, all to myself, a few hours longer, that I begged you not to go till to-morrow."

'Don't be foolish, John. Why, she might be a duke's daughter, to hear you speak. And what proof more would you have of her caring for you? I can believe she felt herself too aristocratic for you; but I like her the better for seeing clearly at last. It is a good deal for me to say,' said Mrs. Thornton, smiling slowly, with tears in her eyes; 'for after tonight, I stand second with you. It was to have you to myself for a few hours longer, that I begged you not to go till tomorrow!'
