Nevertheless, when two people agree to ignore carefully the one subject
that is uppermost in the thoughts of both, the result must be an
uncomfortable constraint and reserve. So the adieus, up to a certain
point, were rather formal. But just as he was going, the same impulse
overcame Royston which had affected him in his interview with Harry
Molyneux. Considering that the age of miracles is past, it was
remarkable that twice in one day the Cool Captain should have approached
so near to the verge of sentimentalism.
"I hope that I shall see you again before long," he said, "but nothing
seems certain--not even the meeting of friends. I should like to thank
you now for some pleasant days and evenings. You have brought a good
deal of sunshine into my life, since I knew you first. I like to think
that, neither in deed nor intention, I have ever deliberately done you
or Harry any harm. I hope you will go on taking as much care of him, and
making him as perfectly happy as you have done. Perhaps I have vexed you
both, lately; but all that is over, and I fancy the punishment will be
proportionate to the offense before it is ended.
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