Such love as mine ought to anger no woman , Sara . But you have a right to be angry with me for presuming to put it into words . I should not have done so -- but I could not help it . It rushed to my lips in spite of me . Forgive me . '' `` I do n't know whether I can forgive you for not telling me before , '' said Sara steadily . '' That is what I have to forgive -- not your speaking at last , even if it was dragged from you against your will . Did you think I would make you such a very poor wife , Jeff , that you would not ask me to marry you ? '' `` Sara ! '' he said , aghast . `` I -- I -- you were as far above me as a star in the sky -- I never dreamed -- I never hoped -- '' `` That I could care for you ? '' said Sara , looking round at last . `` Then you were more modest than a man ought to be , Jeff . I did not know that you loved me , or I should have found some way to make you speak out long ago . I should not have let you waste all these years . I 've loved you -- ever since we picked mayflowers on the hill , I think -- ever since I came home from school , I know . I never cared for anyone else -- although I tried to , when I thought you did n't care for me . It mattered nothing to me that the world may have thought there was some social difference between us . There , Jeff , you can not accuse me of not making my meaning plain . '' `` Sara , '' he whispered , wondering , bewildered , half-afraid to believe this unbelievable joy .
`` I 'm not half worthy XXXXX you -- but -- but '' -- he bent forward and put his arm around her , looking straight into her clear , unshrinking eyes .
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