"
"Was it because of Steven?"
Ally raised her head.
"No. It was _not_. Steven isn't fit to black his boots. I know
that----"
"But--you don't care for him?"
"I did--I did. I do. I care awfully----"
"Well----"
"Oh, Gwenda, can they _make_ me marry him?"
"You don't want to marry him?"
Ally shook her head, slowly, forlornly.
"I see. You're ashamed of him."
"I'm _not_ ashamed. I told you I wasn't. It isn't that----"
"What is it?"
"I'm afraid."
"Afraid----"
"It isn't his fault. He wants to marry me. He wanted to all the time.
He never meant that it should be like this. He asked me to marry him.
Before it happened. Over and over again he asked me and I wouldn't
have him."
"Why wouldn't you?"
"I've told you. Because I'm afraid."
"Why are you afraid?"
"I don't know. I'm not really afraid of _him_. I think I'm afraid of
what he might do to me if I married him."
"_Do_ to you?"
"Yes. He might beat me. They always do, you know, those sort of men,
when you marry them. I couldn't bear to be beaten."
"Oh----" Gwenda drew in her breath.
"He wouldn't do it, Gwenda, if he knew what he was about. But he might
if he didn't. You see, they say he drinks. That's what frightens me.
That's why I daren't tell Papa. Papa wouldn't care if he did beat me.
He'd say it was my punishment."
"If you feel like that about it you mustn't marry him."
"They'll make me."
"They shan't make you.
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