`` Mrs. Barrett 's little Bessie is very ill with fever , '' answered Marian . Then , catching his anxious look , she hastened to add , `` It is nothing infectious -- some kind of a slow , sapping variety . There is no danger , Esterbrook . '' `` I was not afraid for myself , '' he replied quietly . `` My alarm was for you . You are too precious to me , Marian , for me to permit you to risk health and life , if it were dangerous . What a Lady Bountiful you are to those people at the Cove . When we are married you must take me in hand and teach me your creed of charity . I 'm afraid I 've lived a rather selfish life . You will change all that , dear . You will make a good man of me . '' `` You are that now , Esterbrook , '' she said softly . `` If you were not , I could not love you . '' `` It is a negative sort of goodness , I fear . I have never been tried or tempted severely . Perhaps I should fail under the test . '' `` I am sure you would not , '' answered Marian proudly . Esterbrook laughed ; her faith in him was pleasant . He had no thought but that he would prove worthy of it . The Cove , so-called , was a little fishing hamlet situated on the low , sandy shore of a small bay .
The houses , clustered XXXXX one spot , seemed like nothing so much as larger shells washed up by the sea , so grey and bleached were they from long exposure to sea winds and spray .
If at for in of on that to under with