Do you mind my having her in here for a minute or two?'
Henry rose to take his leave. 'I should be glad to see Emily again
at any other time,' he said. 'But it is best that I should go now.
My mind is disturbed, Agnes; I might say things to you, if I
stayed here any longer, which--which are better not said now.
I shall cross the Channel by the mail to-night, and see
how a few weeks' change will help me.' He took her hand.
'Is there anything in the world that I can do for you?' he asked
very earnestly. She thanked him, and tried to release her hand.
He held it with a tremulous lingering grasp. 'God bless you, Agnes!'
he said in faltering tones, with his eyes on the ground.
Her face flushed again, and the next instant turned paler
than ever; she knew his heart as well as he knew it himself--
she was too distressed to speak. He lifted her hand to his lips,
kissed it fervently, and, without looking at her again, left the room.
The nurse hobbled after him to the head of the stairs: she had not
forgotten the time when the younger brother had been the unsuccessful
rival of the elder for the hand of Agnes.
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