"She's better off, sir," I tried to say, though it was all I could do.
"If only I could have saved her," says he, fetching a long breath.
"I know you would, sir," said I, and the tears were running down my cheeks. He didn't cry, but I could see his chest heaving up and down with the struggle not to give in. "I'm afraid it's made you ill again, sir," said I, for he did look bad.
"Oh, that's nothing," says he, sighing. "If only—Don't tell mother. She's going with you. And if your husband—" But all at once he couldn't stand any more. There was a sort of sound like a sob, and he jumped up and was gone before I could say a word. Master Bertram never was one who could bear to be seen crying; and I suppose he wouldn't have cried, whatever he felt, if he hadn't been in a weak state of body. It's wonderful how ashamed young gentlemen are of it's being known they ever shed a tear. It's a sort of pride with them to seem not to mind. Master Bertram always was such a one for carrying everything off with a high hand, so to say; but that day he was knocked down, and no mistake.
Then Mrs. Kingscote came in, and she didn't ask any questions, but just set off with me for Mrs. Coles' cottage.
[CHAPTER IV.]
FROM ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW.
MRS. KINGSCOTE'S STORY.
I HAVE persuaded my friend, Mrs. Murchison, to put down on paper certain recollections of certain events which happened a few years since—not easily, since she is diffident, and not aware of her own unusual powers. But at last she yielded, and a beginning is made which she has shown to me. My impulse, thereupon, is to fill up certain gaps in her story; adding particulars, for my own pleasure, which she has omitted.
"Friend," I call her; and why not? Though we occupy different positions in life, that need be no bar to friendship. Somebody has defined friendship to be "a strong and habitual inclination in two people to promote the good of one another"—an inclination springing, of course, from mutual love. Well, I love Mrs. Murchison, and Mrs. Murchison loves me; I would do aught I could for the good of Mrs. Murchison, and she would do aught she could for my good. Moreover, I trust Mrs. Murchison, and Mrs. Murchison trusts me. I understand Mrs. Murchison, and Mrs. Murchison understands me. What does all this mean, if not friendship?