"I should not have troubled you, my dear, on this unpleasant
subject," said my uncle, "if Michael had not told me that you
were aware of the circumstances under which he feels it his duty
to leave us. After your aunt's interference (quite
incomprehensible to me), the man hardly knows what to do. Being
your groom, he begs me to ask if there is any impropriety in his
leaving the difficulty to your decision. I tell you of his
request, Mina; but I strongly advise you to decline taking any
responsibility on yourself."

I answered mechanically, accepting my uncle's suggestion, while
my thoughts were wholly absorbed in this last of the many
extraordinary proceedings on Lady Claudia's part since Michael
had entered the house. There are limits--out of books and
plays--to the innocence of a young unmarried woman. After what I
had just heard the doubts which had thus far perplexed me were
suddenly and completely cleared up. I said to my secret self:
"She has some human feeling left. If her son goes away, she knows
that they may never meet again!"

From the moment when my mind emerged from the darkness, I
recovered the use of such intelligence and courage as I naturally
possessed. From this point, you will find that, right or wrong, I
saw my way before me, and took it.

To say that I felt for the General with my whole heart, is merely
to own that I could be commonly grateful. I sat on his knee, and
laid my cheek against his cheek, and thanked him for his long,
long years of kindness to me. He stopped me in his simple