"Herbert, I will never throw you over." So they parted, and Onslow
went forth to his new lodgings.

Her promise that she would never throw him over was the warmest word
of love that she had ever spoken, but even that was said in her own
quiet, unimpassioned way. There was in it but very little show of
love, though there might be an assurance of constancy. But her
constancy he did not, in truth, much doubt. Four years,--fourteen,-
-or twenty-four, would be the same to her, he said, as he seated
himself in the dull, cold room which he had chosen. While living in
the Ludwigs Strasse he did not know how much had been daily done for
his comfort by that hand which he had been so seldom allowed to
press; but he knew that he was now cold and comfortless, and he
wished himself back in the Ludwigs Strasse.

"Mamma," said Isa, when they were alone. "Is not Uncle Hatto rather
hard on us? Papa said that he would ask this as a favour from his
brother."

"So he did, my dear; and offered to give up more of his own time.
But your Uncle Hatto is hard."

"He is rich, is he not?"

"Well; your father says not. Your father says that he spends all
his income. Though he is hard and obstinate, he is not selfish. He
is very good to the poor, but I believe he thinks that early
marriages are very foolish."