Her uncle looked at her with great surprise; after his behaviour of
last night he had not expected this. Reassured, he began a voluble
explanation of his movements and plans, rubbing his hands together
and turning one boot against the other.
He had a great deal to say, because he had seen neither of his
sisters for a very long time. Then he wished to make a good
impression because Maggie, the heiress, would be of importance now.
What an idiot he had been last night. What had he done? He could
remember nothing. It was evident that it had been nothing very bad--
Maggie bore him no grudge--good girl, Maggie. He felt affectionate
towards her and would have told her so had her aunt not been
present. These thoughts underlay his rambling history. He was aware
suddenly that his audience was inattentive. He saw, indeed, that his
sister was standing with her back half-turned, gazing on to the
shining country beyond the window. He ceased abruptly, gave his
niece a wink, and when this was unsuccessful, muttering a few words,
stumbled out of the room.
The whole village attended the funeral, not because it liked the
Rev.
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