I am engaged to be
married!"
"But how interesting!" exclaimed Advena.
He looked at her taken aback. His own mood was heavy; it
failed to answer this lightness from her. It is hard to
know what he expected, what his unconscious blood expected
for him; but it was not this. If he had little wisdom
about the hearts of women, he had less about their
behaviour. She said nothing more, but inclined her head
in an angle of deference and expectation toward what he
should further communicate.
"I don't know that I have ever told you much about my
life in Scotland," he went on. "It has always seemed to
me so remote and--disconnected with everything here. I
could not suppose it would interest anyone. I was cared
for and educated by my father's only sister, a good woman.
It was as if she had whole charge of the part of my life
that was not absorbed in work. I don't know that I can
make you understand. She was identified with all the
rest--I left it to her. Shortly before I sailed for Canada
she spoke to me of marriage in connection with my work
and--welfare, and with--a niece of her husband's who was
staying with us at the time, a person suitable in every
way. Apart from my aunt, I do not know--However, I owed
everything to her, and I--took her advice in the matter.
I left it to her.
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