Violet Jacob > Stories told by the miller

226 STORIES TOLD BY THE MILLER
“Janet,” said the miller, “I hear that your
grandmother is going to leave the cottage by
the pond and go away to some other place. Is
that true, do you think ?”
“ I’m afraid so,” replied she.
“ And you will go too ?”
“Oh yes,” said Janet; “we have no other
home.”
“ But little Peter will miss his stories.”
Janet sighed. “Indeed he will,” she answered,
sadly. “ There is not much else we have in
the way of pleasure.”
“ But I can’t let you go,” the miller went on,
“and what’s more, I won’t. Janet,if you’llmarry
me and come and live with me at the mill-house,
I’ll see that you are happy for the rest of your
life. Do you think you could like me enough
for that ?”
“But I can’t leave Peter,” she exclaimed;
“ I could never be happy to think of him all
alone, and perhaps being cruelly used.”
“But suppose he came too?—there’s plenty
of room for him. Will you say yes, Janet,
or shall we ask him to settle it for us?” said
the miller. “ Will you promise to marry me
if he says yes ?”