"I have something to ask Mr. Courthorne and will overtake you," she
said.
The others rode on, and the girl turned to Winston. "I made you a
promise and did my best to keep it, but I find it harder than I fancied
it would be," she said. "I want you to release me."
"I should like to hear your reasons," said Winston.
The girl made a faint gesture of impatience. "Of course, if you
insist."
"I do," said Winston quietly.
"Then I promised you to have my holding sown this year, and I am still
willing to do so, but though my uncle makes no protest, I know he feels
my opposition very keenly, and it hurts me horribly. Unspoken
reproaches are the worst to bear, you know, and now Dane and some of
the others are following your lead, it is painful to feel that I am
taking part with them against the man who has always been kind to me."
"And you would prefer to be loyal to Colonel Barrington, even if it
costs you a good deal?"
"Of course!" said Maud Barrington. "Can you ask me?"
Winston saw the sparkle in her eyes and the half-contemptuous pride in
the poise of the shapely head. Loyalty, it was evident, was not a
figure of speech with her, but he felt that he had seen enough and
turned his face aside.
"I knew it would be difficult when I asked," he said. "Still, I cannot
give you back that promise. We are going to see a great change this
year, and I have set my heart on making all I can for you."
"But why should you?" asked Maud Barrington, somewhat astonished that
she did not feel more angry.
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