'
'But you did not.'
'I did not.'
'No, no! you did not, Winnie. My darling refused to make any such
cruel, monstrous promise as that.'
'But I promised her that I would in such an event wait a year--at
least a year--before betrothing myself to you.'
'Shame! shame! What made her do this cruel thing? A year! wait for a
year!'
'She brought forward many reasons, Henry, but upon two of them she
was constantly dwelling.'
'And what were these?'
'Well, the news of the death of your brother Frank of course reached
us in Shire-Carnarvon, and how well I remember hearing my aunt say,
"Henry Aylwin will be one of the wealthiest landowners in England."
And I remember how my heart sank at her words, for I was always
thinking of the dear little lame boy with the language of suffering
in his eyes and the deep music of sorrow in his voice.'
'Your heart sank, Winnie, and why?'
'I felt as if a breath of icy air had blown between us, dividing us
for ever. And then my aunt began to talk about you and your future.'
After some trouble I persuaded Winnie to tell me what was the homily
that this aunt of hers preached _a propos_ of Frank's death.
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