Sinfi Lovell has told me
all about it.' Then, looking intently at me, she said, 'And how your
sorrow has changed you, dear!'
'You mean it has aged me, Winnie. I have observed it myself, and
people tell me it has made me look older than I am by many years.
These furrows around the eyes--these furrows on my brow--you are
kissing them, dear.'
'Oh, I love them; how I love them!' she said. 'I am not kissing them
to smooth them away. To me every line tells of your love for Winnie.'
'And the hair, Winnie--look, it is getting quite grizzled.' Then, as
the lovely head sank upon my breast. I whispered in her ears, 'Is
there at last sorrow enough in the eyes, Winnie? Has the hardening
effect of wealth coarsened my expression? Can a rich man for once
enter the kingdom of love? Is the betrothal now complete? Are we both
betrothed now?'
I stopped, for bliss and love were convulsing her with sobs until you
might have supposed her heart was breaking.
While she lay silent thus, I was able in some degree to call my wits
around me. And the difficulty of knowing in what course I ought to
direct conversation presented itself, and seemed to numb my faculties
and paralyse me.
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