Letmyunclehavehisway。Letushavenomoretroublesandheart-burningsthatanysacrificeofminecanprevent。Sayyouwilllivewithme，Marian，whenIammarried——andsaynomore。’
ButIdidsaymore。Iforcedbackthecontemptibletearsthatwerenorelieftome，andthatonlydistressedher，andreasonedandpleadedascalmlyasIcould。Itwasofnoavail。Shemademetwicerepeatthepromisetolivewithherwhenshewasmarried，andthensuddenlyaskedaquestionwhichturnedmysorrowandmysympathyforherintoanewdirection。
`WhilewewereatPolesdean，’shesaid，`youhadaletter，Man-an——’
Heralteredtone——theabruptmannerinwhichshelookedawayfrommeandhidherfaceonmyshoulder——thehesitationwhichsilencedherbeforeshehadcompletedherquestion，alltoldme，buttooplainly，towhomthehalf-expressedinquirypointed。
`Ithought，Laura，thatyouandIwerenevertorefertohimagain，’