But it was n't daring at all , it was just forgetting . `` Oh , Dick , we did n't mean any harm . We thought you were n't getting on fast enough and we wanted to stir you up like they do in books . We thought if we made you jealous it would work all right . We did n't mean any harm . Oh , please forgive us ! '' I was just ready to cry . But that dear Dick leaned over the table and patted my hand . `` There , there , it 's all right . I understand and of course I forgive you . Do n't cry , sweetheart . '' The way Dick said `` sweetheart '' was perfectly lovely . I envied Aunt Tommy , and I wanted to keep on crying so that he would go on comforting me . `` And you 'll come back to see Aunt Tommy again ? '' I said . Dick 's face clouded over ; he got up and walked around the room several times before he said a word . Then he came and sat down beside me and explained it all to me , just as if I were grown up . `` Sweetheart , we 'll talk this all out . You see , it is this way . Your Aunt Bertha is the sweetest woman in the world .
But I 'm only a poor minister and I have no right XXXXX ask her to share my life of hard work and self-denial .
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