Besides, she plainly saw
that the same fact would, almost of necessity, lead him to
imagine there had been much more between them than was the case;
and she argued with herself, that, now there was nothing, now
that everything was over, it would be a pity if, because of what
she could not help, and what would never be again, there should
arise anything, however small, of a misunderstanding between her
cousin Godfrey and her.
The moment Godfrey saw her, he knew that something was the
matter; but there had been that going on in him which put him on
a false track for the explanation. Scarcely had he, on his
departure for London, turned his back on Thornwick, ere he found
he was leaving one whom yet he could not leave behind him. Every
hour of his absence he found his thoughts with the sweet face and
ministering hands of his humble pupil. Therewith, however, it was
nowise revealed to him that he was in love with her. He thought
of her only as his younger sister, loving, clinging, obedient. So
dear was she to him, he thought, that he would rejoice to secure
her happiness at any cost to himself. _Any_ cost? he asked--
and reflected. Yes, he answered himself--even the cost of giving
her to a better man. The thing was sure to come, he thought--nor
thought without a keen pang, scarcely eased by the dignity of the
self-denial that would yield her with a smile.
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