Your
mother was very kind to me, and I fear I abused her kindness; abused
it by misunderstanding it. There was a great deal of misunderstanding;
and I was proud, and my friend was proud, and so the misunderstanding
continued, until now it has become irretrievable."
He had forgotten her presence apparently, and was speaking more to
himself than to her as he stood looking down at the medal in his hand.
"You were very thoughtful to give me this," he continued; "it was very
good of you. I don't know why I should keep it though, now, although I
was distressed enough when I lost it. But now it is only a reminder of
a time that is past and put away, but which was very, very dear to me.
Perhaps I should tell you that I had a misunderstanding with the
friend who gave it to me, and since then we have never met; have
ceased to know each other. But I have always followed his life as a
judge and as a lawyer, and respected him for his own sake as a man. I
cannot tell--I do not know how he feels toward me."
The old lawyer turned the medal over in his hand and stood looking
down at it wistfully.
The cynical Miss Catherwaight could not stand it any longer.
"Mr. Lockwood," she said, impulsively, "Mr.
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