Not the less , my dear May , '' -- and she drew towards her in a closer grasp , -- `` not the less , my bird , because , to-day , the knowledge that you are to be His wife has wrung my heart almost to breaking ! Father , May , Mary ! Oh , forgive me that it is so , for the sake of all he has done to relieve the weariness of my dark life : and for the sake of the belief you have in me , when I call Heaven to witness that I could not wish him married to a wife more worthy of his goodness ! '' While speaking , she had released May Fielding 's hands , and clasped her garments in an attitude of mingled supplication and love . Sinking lower and lower down , as she proceeded in her strange confession , she dropped at last at the feet of her friend , and hid her blind face in the folds of her dress . `` Great Power ! '' exclaimed her father , smitten at one blow with the truth , `` have I deceived her from her cradle , but to break her heart at last ? '' It was well for all of them that Dot , that beaming , useful , busy little Dot -- for such she was , whatever faults she had , and however you may learn to hate her , in good time -- it was well for all of them , I say , that she was there , or where this would have ended , it were hard to tell . But Dot , recovering her self-possession , interposed , before May could reply , or Caleb say another word . `` Come , come , dear Bertha ! come away with me ! Give her your arm , May ! So . How composed she is , you see , already ; and how good it is of her to mind us , '' said the cheery little woman , kissing her upon the forehead . `` Come away , dear Bertha ! Come ! and here 's her good father will come with her , wo n't you , Caleb ? To -- be -- sure ! '' Well , well ! she was a noble little Dot in such things , and it must have been an obdurate nature that could have withstood her influence .
When she had got poor Caleb and his Bertha away , that they might comfort and console each other , as she knew they only could , she presently came bouncing back , -- the saying is , XXXXX fresh as any daisy ; I say fresher -- to mount guard over that bridling little piece of consequence in the cap and gloves , and prevent the dear old creature from making discoveries .
While as at before from in to towards upon with