thatsheinvariablywentonwithherworkheedlessofhispresence，andineverythingtreatedhimasifshehadbeenhisequal。Shepersistedintalkingwithhiminahalfsisterlyfashionabouthisstudiesandhisfuturecareer，warnedhimwithgreatsolicitudeagainstsomeofhisreprobatefriends，ofwhosemerryadventureshehadtoldher;andifheventuredtocomplimentheronherbeautyorheraccomplishments，shewouldlookupgravelyfromhersewing，oranswerhiminawaywhichseemedtobanishtheideaoflove—makingintothelandoftheimpossible。Hewasconstantlytormentedbythesuspicionthatshesecretlydisapprovedofhim，andthatfromameremoralinterestinhiswelfareshewasconscientiouslylaboringtomakehimabetterman。Dayafterdayhepartedfromherfeelinghumiliated，faint—hearted，andsecretlyindignantbothathimselfandher，anddayafterdayhereturnedonlytorenewthesameexperience。Atlastitbecametoointolerable，hecouldendureitnolonger。Letitmakeorbreak，certainty，atallrisks，wasatleastpreferabletothissickeningsuspense。Thathelovedher，hecouldnolongerdoubt;lethisparentsfoamandfretasmuchastheypleased;
foroncehewasgoingtostandonhisownlegs。
Andintheend，hethought，theywouldhavetoyield，fortheyhadnosonbuthim。
Berthawasgoingtoreturntoherhomeonthesea—coastinaweek。Ralphstoodinthelittlelow—ceiledparlor，assheimagined，tobidhergood—bye。Theyhadbeenspeakingofherfather，herbrothers，andthefarm，andshehadexpressedthewishthatifheevershouldcometothatpartofthecountryhemightpaythemavisit。Herwordshadkindledavaguehopeinhisbreast，butintheirveryfranknessandfriendlyregardtherewassomethingwhichslewthehopetheyhadbegotten。Heheldherhandinhis，andherlargeconfidingeyesshonewithanemotionwhichwasbeautiful，butwasyetnotlove。
\"Ifyouwerebutapeasantbornlikemyself，\"