Their mother was just finishing the last words of a well-known text,--"for my sake, and the Gospel's, shall receive a hundred-fold in this present life, fathers, and mothers, and brothers, and sisters." "But not a wife!" interrupted Frank, with a voice stifled with sobs; "that was too precious a gift for even Him to promise to those who gave up a first love for His sake!" "And yet," said he, after a moment's silence, "has He not heaped me with blessings enough already, that I must repine and rage at His refusing me one more, even though that one be--No, mother! I am your son, and God's; and you shall know it, even though Amyas never does!" And he looked up with his clear blue eyes and white forehead; and his face was as the face of an angel.
Both of them saw that Amyas was present, and started and blushed.

His mother motioned him away with her eyes, and he went quietly out, as one stunned.

Why had his name been mentioned?
Love, cunning love, told him all at once.

This was the meaning of last night's canzonet! This was why its words had seemed to fit his own heart so well! His brother was his rival.

And he had been telling him all his love last night.