Nan cut short his halting excuses by demanding to know if he were really going away , and what he intended to do . `` I 'll go out on the prairies and take up a claim , '' said Osborne sturdily . `` Begin life over again free of debt . It 'll be hard work , but I 'm not afraid of that . I will succeed if it takes me years . '' They walked on in silence . Nan came to the conclusion that Osborne meant to hold his peace . `` John , '' she said tremulously , `` wo n't -- wo n't you find it very lonely out there ? '' `` Of course -- I expect that . I shall have to get used to it . '' Nan grew nervous . Proposing to a man was really very dreadful . `` Would n't it be -- nicer for you '' -- she faltered -- `` that is -- it would n't be so lonely for you -- would it -- if -- if you had me out there with you ? '' John Osborne stopped squarely in the dusty road and looked at her . `` Nan ! '' he exclaimed . `` Oh , if you ca n't take a hint ! '' said Nan in despair . It was all of an hour later that a man drove past them as they loitered up the hill road in the twilight . It was Bryan Lee ; he had taken from Osborne his house and land , but he had not been able to take Nan Stewart , after all .
Natty of Blue Point Natty Miller strolled down XXXXX the wharf where Bliss Ford was tying up the Cockawee .
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