"Don't abuse him, brother! Let the knowledge that we are parted
forever, satisfy your resentment. Since he has not appealed to me
from your verdict, I am left to suppose that, upon second thoughts,
he has resolved to acquiesce in your will. I do not blame him for
the change of purpose." Still impassive in feature and voice, still
not withdrawing her fixed gaze from that one point upon the floor.
"He, too, has pride, and it matches yours. I do not say mine. I
question, sometimes, if I have any."

"If your conjecture be correct, you cannot object to return the
letters you have already received from him," said Winston, pressing
on to the conclusion of a disagreeable business. "Since you are not
likely to add to your stock of these valuables, you do not care to
retain them, I suppose? I believe the rule is total surrender of
souvenirs when a rupture is pronounced hopeless."

"I shall keep them a week longer!"

She assigned no reason for the resolution, and her manner, without
being sullen, aggravated her brother into wrath, the effusion of
which was a withering sneer.

"Your hope in his repentance is creditable to the strength--or
weakness--of woman's love. But have your way. The illustrious record
of his former life is a powerful argument in favor of clemency. In a
week, then!"

He nodded dismissal, wheeled his chair around to the table, dipped a
pen in the standish, and pulled an account-book toward him.