At last she said in a voice broken by sobs, 'I was unjust--
I know Eleanor was all kindness--all self-sacrifice--I have been very
ungrateful--I wish I could help it--and you know well, Claude, how
far I am from regarding dear Harry with indifference--how the thought
of him is a star in my mind--how happy it makes me to think of him at
the end of the Church Militant Prayer; do not believe I was dreaming
of him.'
'And pray,' said Claude, laughing in his own good-humoured way,
'which of us is it that she is so willing to lose?'
'Oh! Claude, no such thing,' said Lily, 'you know what I meant, or
did not mean. It was nonsense--I hope nothing worse.' Lily felt
that she might take his arm again. There was a little silence, and
then Lily resumed in a timid voice, 'I do not know whether you will
be angry, Claude, but honestly, I do not think that if--that Eleanor
would be so wretched about you as I should.'
'Eleanor knew Harry better than you did; no, Lily, I never could have
been what Harry was, even if I had never wasted my time, and if my
headaches had not interfered with my best efforts.'
'I do not believe that, say what you will,' said Lily.
'Ask William, then,' said Claude, sighing.
Pages:
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130