He fancied this would not have happened without her connivance,
and she seemed graver than usual when he stood by her chair.
"I don't wish to pain you, but I surmise that Colonel Barrington is
scarcely well enough to be consulted about anything of importance just
now," he said.
Miss Barrington made a little gesture of assent. "We usually pay him
the compliment, but I am almost afraid he will never make a decision of
moment again."
"Then," said Winston slowly, "you stand in his place, and I fancy you
know why I have come back to Silverdale. Will you listen for a very
few minutes while I tell you about my parents and what my upbringing
has been? I must return to Winnipeg, for a time at least, to-morrow."
Miss Barrington signed her willingness, and the man spoke rapidly with
a faint trace of hoarseness. Then he looked down on her.
"Madam," he said, "I have told you everything, partly from respect for
those who only by a grim sacrifice did what they could for me, and that
you may realize the difference between myself and the rest at
Silverdale. I want to be honest now at least, and I discovered, not
without bitterness at the time, that the barriers between our castes
are strong in the old country."
Miss Barrington smiled a little. "Have I ever made you feel it here?"
"No," said Winston gravely. "Still, I am going to put your forbearance
to a strenuous test. I want your approval. I have a question to ask
your niece to-night.
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