"You must make the best of that, but the others may
believe exactly what they please. It will be a favor to me if you
remember it."
Dane smiled curiously. "Then I think it is enough for me, and you will
overlook my presumption. Courthorne, I wonder now and then when I
shall altogether understand you!"
"The time will come," said Winston dryly, to hide what he felt, for his
comrade's simple avowal had been wonderfully eloquent. Then Dane
touched his horse with his heel and rode away.
It was two or three weeks later when Winston, being requested to do so,
drove over to attend one of the assemblies at Silverdale Grange. It
was dark when he reached the house, for the nights were drawing in, but
because of the temperature few of the great oil lamps were lighted, and
the windows were open wide. Somebody had just finished singing when he
walked into the big general room, and he would have preferred another
moment to make his entrance, but disdained to wait. He, however, felt
a momentary warmth in his face when Miss Barrington, stately as when he
had first seen her in her rustling silk and ancient laces, came forward
to greet him with her usual graciousness. He knew that every eye was
upon them, and guessed why she had done so much.
What she said was of no moment, but the fact that she had received him
without sign of coldness was eloquent, and the man bent very
respectfully over the little white hand. Then he stood straight and
square for a moment and met her eyes.
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