When people's hanging
over a man's bed at the end, it's as if everything stopped but
that--that's stopping for all time."
After luncheon the rain began to fall softly, slowly, and with a
suggestion of endlessness. It was a sort of mist itself, and became a
damp shadow among the bare branches of trees which soon began to drip.
"You have been walking about all morning, and you are tired, dear," Lady
Anstruthers said to her. "Won't you go to your room and rest, Betty?"
Yes, she would go to her room, she said. Some new books had arrived from
London this morning, and she would look over them. She talked a little
about her visits before she went, and when, as she talked, Ughtred came
over to her and stood close to her side holding her hand and stroking
it, she smiled at him sweetly--the smile he adored. He stroked the hand
and softly patted it, watching her wistfully. Suddenly he lifted it to
his lips, and kissed it again and again with a sort of passion.
"I love you so much, Aunt Betty," he cried. "We both love you so much.
Something makes me love you to-day more than ever I did before. It
almost makes me cry. I love you so."
She stooped swiftly and drew him into her arms and kissed him close and
hard.
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