"
Remembering what I had said to him, I explained to her that in speaking
as I had done I referred entirely to Agatha.
"It is so utterly unexpected," she said, "that you must pardon my
strange reception of your intelligence."
She sat quite silent for some minutes, then continued:
"It seems so strange for you to fall in love with Agatha. The dearest
wish of Sir Barnard's heart was to have her for a daughter-in-law."
A fierce spasm of jealousy almost robbed me of my breath.
"Did she--did she--"
Then I could get no further.
"No, Agatha did not like Miles, if that is what you mean?"
"Did Miles love her?"
"I cannot tell--there was something very mysterious about him. He looked
to me like one who had a secret on his mind. I have often wondered what
it could be. He was not a happy man of late years."
"You have not told me yet, Lady Thesiger, if I have your good wishes."
She held out her hand with a gracious, kindly smile.
"Shall I tell you the truth--no flattery, but just the simple truth? I
would rather Agatha married you than any other man in the nation. She
has not only my full consent, but I am pleased, proud and happy.
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