But she spoke her own despair in the
way she murmured "Oh Godfrey, Godfrey, is it true?"
"I've been the most unutterable donkey--you can say what you like to
me. You can't say anything worse than I've said to myself."
"My brother, my brother!"--his words made her wail it out. He hushed
her with a movement and she asked: "What has father said?"
He looked very high over her head. "He'll give her six hundred a
year."
"Ah the angel!"--it was too splendid.
"On condition"--Godfrey scarce blinked--"she never comes near me.
She has solemnly promised, and she'll probably leave me alone to get
the money. If she doesn't--in diplomacy--I'm lost." He had been
turning his eyes vaguely about, this way and that, to avoid meeting
hers; but after another instant he gave up the effort and she had the
miserable confession of his glance. "I've been living in hell."
"My brother, my brother!" she yearningly repeated.
"I'm not an idiot; yet for her I've behaved like one. Don't ask me--
you mustn't know. It was all done in a day, and since then fancy my
condition; fancy my work in such a torment; fancy my coming through
at all."
"Thank God you passed!" she cried. "You were wonderful!"
"I'd have shot myself if I hadn't been. I had an awful day yesterday
with the governor; it was late at night before it was over. I leave
England next week. He brought me down here for it to look well--so
that the children shan't know.
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