But she did , and with a world of feeling in her own sweet face , she offered me , not money , but her hand , saying in a voice that made my heart leap up , -- '' ` Richard , I was afraid you had gone down as so many disappointed young men go when their ambitious hopes fail ; but I am so glad , so proud to see in your face that you still work and wait , like a brave and honest man . I must speak to you ! ' `` What could I do after that but hold the white hand fast in both my grimy ones , while I told my little story , and the hope that had come at last . Heaven knows I told it very badly , for those tender eyes were upon me all the time , so full of unspoken love and pity , admiration and respect , that I felt like one in a glorified dream , and forgot I was a coal-heaver . `` That was the last of it , though , and the next time I came to see my Kate it was with clean hands , that carried her , as a first love-token , the little tale which was the foundation-stone of this happy home . '' He stopped there , and his face brightened beautifully , for the sound of little feet approached , and childish voices cried eagerly , -- `` Papa ! papa ! the snow has come ! May we go and shovel off the steps ? '' `` Yes , my lads , and mind you do it well ; for some day you may have to earn your breakfast , '' answered Dick , as three fine boys came prancing in , full of delight at the first snow-fall . `` These fellows have a passion for shovelling which they inherit from their father , '' he added , with a twinkle of the eye that told Mrs. Kate what we had been talking about . It was sweet to see with what tender pride she took the hand he stretched out to her , and holding it in both her own , said , with her eyes upon her boys , -- `` I hope they will inherit not only their father 's respect for honest work , but the genius that can see and paint truth and beauty in the humble things of this world . '' XI . CLAMS . A GHOST STORY . `` I have n't a room in the house , ma'am , but if you do n't mind going down to the cottage , and coming up here to your meals , I can accommodate you , and would be glad to , '' said Mrs. Grant , in answer to my demand for board . `` Where is the cottage ? '' and I looked about me , feeling ready to accept anything in the way of shelter , after the long , hot journey from broiling Boston , to breezy York Harbor . `` Right down there , just a step , you see . It 's all in order , and next week it will be full , for many folks prefer it because of the quiet . ''
At the end of a precipitous path , which XXXXX every facility for accidents of all sorts , from a sprained ankle to a broken neck , stood the cottage , a little white building with a pretty woodbine over the porch , gay flowers in the garden , and the blue Atlantic rolling up at the foot of the cliff .
accept added fail hold holding knows offered saying shovelling took