"No, I have lost her at last!" he said to himself, "and she is the one only woman in the world." Then he remembered, as if the reminder had been whispered in his ear, a promise he had made.

It was one day during Mr.Beresford's illness, when his mind was a little clearer than usual.

He had been trying feebly to return to his old interests, and speaking in his weak broken tones, about the future.

He grew very tired after awhile, and Maurice persuaded him to try to sleep, but there was yet another thing to be said.
"You must marry soon, Maurice." "I am young, sir, there is no hurry." "No--only let it be soon." "I must first find the lady." "I thought I could have helped you--but it is too late." Maurice was silent.
"You _will_ marry ?" and the old man tried to raise himself in his earnestness.
"I hope to do so." "Don't talk of hoping--it is a duty, positive duty." "I mean to do so, then, grandfather." "Say 'I will'-- promise me." "If I both hope and intend it, sir, is that not enough ?" "No, no.

Promise." "Well then, I promise." The invalid was satisfied, and in a few minutes dropped asleep, and the conversation almost passed from his grandson's mind.
Now, however, he remembered it, as having bound him to something which might be a lifelong misery.