she died, she asked me to promise that I would never marry Hugh Blair.
She had not mentioned his name for years. I thought she had forgotten all about him.
“Oh, dear sister, is there any need of such a promise?” I asked, weeping. “Hugh Blair does not want to marry me now. He never will again.”
“He has never married — he has not forgotten you,” she said fiercely. “I could not rest in my grave if I thought you would disgrace your family by marrying beneath you. Promise me, Margaret.”
I promised. I would have promised anything in my power to make her dying pillow easier. Besides, what did it matter? I was sure that Hugh would never think of me again.
She smiled when she heard me, and pressed my hand.
“Good little sister — that is right. You were always a good girl, Margaret — good and obedient, though a little sentimental and foolish in some ways. You are like our mother — she was always weak and loving. I took after the Merediths.”
She did, indeed. Even in her coffin her dark, handsome features preserved their expression of pride and determination. Somehow, that last look of her dead face remained in my memory, blotting out the real affection and gentleness which her living face had almost always shown me. This distressed
