would give up writing or speaking publicly about
such matters, but I couldn't pretend not to believe what I did
believe. Perhaps, as my opinions had altered so much already,
very likely they might again."

"He seemed to be rather amused at that, and said he sincerely
hoped they might. But now came the most serious point; he had
heard very bad stories of me at Oxford, but he would not press me
with them. There were too few young men whose lives would bear
looking into for him to insist much on such matters, and he was
ready to let bygones be bygones. But I must remember that he had
himself seen me in one very awkward position. I broke in, and
said I had hoped that had been explained to him. I could not
defend my Oxford life; or could not defend myself as to this
particular case at one time; but there had been nothing in it
that I was ashamed of since before the time I knew his daughter."

"On my honour, had I absolutely and entirely broken off all
relations with her? He had been told that I still kept up a
correspondence with her."

"Yes, I still wrote to her, and saw her occasionally; but it was
only to give her news of a young man from her village, who was
now serving in India. He had no other way of communicating with
her."

"It was a most curious arrangement; did I mean that this young
man was going to be married to her?"

"I hoped so."

"Why should he not write to her at once, if they were engaged to
be married?"

"They were not exactly engaged; it was rather hard to explain.
Here your uncle seemed to lose patience, for he interrupted me
and said, 'Really, it must be clear to me, as a reasonable man,
that, if this connexion were not absolutely broken off, there
must be an end of everything, so far as his daughter was
concerned. Would I give my word of honor to break it off at once,
and completely?' I tried to explain again; but he would have
nothing but 'yes' or 'no.' Dear Katie, what could I do? I have
written to Patty that, till I die, she may always reckon on me as
on a brother; and I promised Harry never to lose sight of her,
and to let her know everything that happens to him. Your uncle
would not hear me; so I said, "No." And he said, 'Then our
interview had better end,' and rang the bell. Somebody, I'm sure,
has been slandering me to him; who can it be?"

"I didn't say another word, or offer to shake hands, but got up
and walked out of the room, as it was no good waiting for the
servant to come.