to him, my uncle had been to me; and that it would take a long time to
make me as much indebted to a husband as already I was to my uncle. Then
I put the question:

"What would you think of me if I had a secret from an uncle like that?"

"If I had an uncle like that," he answered, "I would sooner cut my throat
than keep anything from him!"

"I have not told him," I said, "what happened to-day--or yesterday."

"But you will tell him?"

"The first moment I can. But I hope you understand it is hard to do. My
love for my uncle makes it hard. It has the look of turning away from him
to love another!"

With that I burst out crying. I could not help it. He let me cry, and did
not interfere. I was grateful for that. When at length I raised my head,
he spoke.

"It has that look," he said; "but I trust it is only a look. Anyhow, he
knows that such things must be; and the more of a good man and a
gentleman he is, the less will he be pained that we should love one
another!"

"I am sure of that," I replied. "I am only afraid that he may never have
been in love himself, and does not know how it feels, and may think I
have forsaken him for you."