You must ask Susan to be your wife, and ask her
parents to let you have her. But,--pay attention to my words!--you
must tell her that you are a poor, hired man on this place, and
that she can be engaged as housekeeper. Don't speak of me as your
father, but as the owner of the farm. Bring her here in that
belief, and let me see how honest and willing she is. I can easily
arrange matters with Harry and Sally while you are away; and I'll
only ask you to keep up the appearance of the thing for a month or
so."
"But, father,"--Jacob began.
"Not a word! Are you not willing to do that much for the sake of
having her all your life, and this farm after me? Suppose it is
covered with a mortgage, if she is all you say, you two can work it
off. Not a word more! It is no lie, after all, that you will tell
her."
"I am afraid," said Jacob, "that she could not leave her home now.
She is too useful there, and the family is so poor."
"Tell them that both your wages, for the first year, shall go to
them. It'll be my business to rake and scrape the money together
somehow.
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