"But I would be starting in the middle of a story." "You mean that you wish to hear your father's history?
Did he not tell you ?" "Trifles--that is all." "Did he ever speak of me ?" asked Lady Belward with low anxiety.
"Yes, when he was dying." "What did he say ?" "He said: 'Tell my mother that Truth waits long, but whips hard.

Tell her that I always loved her.'" She shrank in her chair as if from a blow, and then was white and motionless.
"Let us hear your story," Sir William said with a sort of hauteur.

"You know your own, much of your father's lies buried with him." "Very well, sir." Sir William drew a chair up beside his wife.

Gaston sat back, and for a moment did not speak.

He was looking into distance.