``I got Mrs. Brindley
to exact a promise from you that you'd let her know
about yourself. I called on Mrs. Belloc one day when
you were out, and gave her my confidence and got hers
--and assured myself that you were in good hands.
Crossley's tale gave me--a shock. I came at once.''
``Then you didn't abandon me to my fate, as I
thought?''
He smiled in his strange way. ``I?--when I loved
you? Hardly.''
``Then you did interest yourself in me because you
cared--precisely as I said,'' laughed she.
``And I should have given you up if you had
succeeded--precisely as I said,'' replied he.
``You wished me to fail?''
``I wished you to fail. I did everything I could to
help you to succeed. I even left you absolutely alone,
set you in the right way--the only way in which anyone
can win success.''
``Yes, you made me throw away the crutches and try
to walk.''
``It was hard to do that. Those strains are very
wearing at my time of life.''
``You never were any younger, and you'll never be
any older,'' laughed she.
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