'Do you not think I was right? I was only eighteen, and he was over sixty.'

'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a
thing.'

'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I
have forgotten to feed them!' Taking out all the bread that remained in the
basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up
stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice. There was a
plank by which to cross the deep cutting. Hubert and Emily paused, and
stood gazing at the large beech wood that swept over some rising ground.
Don had not been seen for some time, and they both shouted to him.
Presently a black mass was seen bounding through the flowers, and the
panting animal once more ensconced himself by his mistress's side.

'I was very fond of Mr. Burnett,' she said, 'but I could not marry him. I
could not marry any man I did not love.'

'And because you refused to marry him, he did not mention you in his will.
I never heard of such selfishness before!'

'Men are always selfish,' she said sententiously. 'But it really does not
matter; things are just the same; he hasn't succeeded in altering
anything--at least, not for the worse. We shall get on very well together.'

The conversation paused. Then Emily went on: 'You won't tell any one I told
you? I only told you because I did not want you to think me selfish. I was
afraid that after the foolish way I behaved last night you might think I
hated you. Indeed, I do not. Perhaps everything has happened for the best.