"Very likely he did! Well, I've never had any thought of Miss Vyner. Of course, I have always known that you were gone on her--you wasted your trouble." Even at that moment, Godfrey felt a sense of relief at the convincing dryness of Guy's tone. But it stung him. "I was mad," he said; "but don't imagine I shall profit by the consequences. I shall treat the will as so much waste paper. As if it had been burnt, as it ought to have been." "There are two words to that," said Guy. "I've spoken mine," said Godfrey, standing up and speaking hotly. "I swore before--by her side, as solemnly as I knew how, that I wouldn't inherit under that will, and I will not." "_What_ did you do?" Then Godfrey told him what he had done, ending passionately, with-- "I could never have faced you otherwise." "You have only got yourself and everybody into a hopeless hole. Making vows like a romantic girl, which depend on your own state of mind for their meaning," said Guy, angrily. "The fiend was handy then, I should say;" and he laughed in an odd, fierce fashion. "I know what I meant," said Godfrey; "but, of course, I've given you the right to say what you please to me." "No," said Guy, after a moment's silence. "Don't be angry. I'm disappointed, and there's more in it than I can tell you now. But-- shake hands. There's only us two in the world. Of course I knew you wouldn't wrong me of a halfpenny. And I'll take good care no one thinks you have." Godfrey shook the offered hand, in a formal, schoolboy fashion. He had nothing more to say. His feelings were too strong to be articulate, and he was, moreover, desperately afraid of making Guy faint. So that he was not sorry when Cuthbert came back and turned him out. He had made his confession, but nothing in those dreary days seemed real to him, not even himself. PART TWO, CHAPTER NINE. THE WHITE WREATH. There could not be much sorrow at Waynflete for so new a comer, but there was much respectful interest. All the villagers crowded into the little church and churchyard on the stormy morning of Mrs Waynflete's funeral, at their head "soft" Jem, with a bit of crape on his sleeve; and the neighbouring gentry and clergy either came themselves or sent their carriages to follow the procession from the church to Kirk Hinton station. The actual mourners were few, and Cuthbert Staunton came into the church behind the two brothers. "She said that she forgave your family," Guy said gravely. "It is right that you should be there."