We were sitting in the cool, perfumed
atmosphere of St. Peter's, and for the moment a soothing wave seemed
to pass over my soul. For some little time there had been silence
between us. At length I said, 'Mother, it seems strange indeed for me
to have to say to you that you blame yourself too much for the part
you took in the tragedy of Winnie. When you sent her into Wales you
didn't know that her aunt was dead; you did it, as you thought, for
her good as well as for mine.'
She rose as if to embrace me, and then sank down again.
'But you don't know all, Henry; you don't know all. I knew her aunt
was dead, though Shales did not, or he would never have taken her.
All that concerned me was to get her away before your own recovery. I
thought there might be relatives of hers or friends whom Shales might
find. But I was possessed by a frenzied desire to get her away. For
years my eyes had been fixed on the earldom. I had been told by your
aunt that Cyril was consumptive, and also that he was very unlikely
to marry.'
I could not suppress a little laugh.
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