She shook her head.
"It is only out of pure selfishness, Gertrude," he continued. "If I don't know how it is going with you I shall be ill."
"No, uncle. We two require no one; we shall get on better alone."
"Don't break the staff at once, child," he said, gently,
"I do not need to do that, Uncle Henry."
He lifted his hat from his bald head. There was a reverent expression in his eyes.
"Good-bye, Gertrude, little Gertrude. If I had had my way, you would not have heard a word of it."
She bent her head gravely.
"It is best so, uncle."
Then she went back the way she had come.