No, it was not about her I wished to
see you."
"Then, sir, I cannot guess," said Barbara.
"I wished to apologise," said Sir John. "As I grow older my ill temper
gains on me, I fear. Thwarted, I am senseless enough at times to become
like a bullying schoolboy, and I say the first outrageous things which
come to my tongue--conduct worthy only of a harridan. It was so that
night at Aylingford. You were entirely right, I was entirely wrong.
Forgive me, Barbara."
"I forgive, yes, but you must not expect me to forget so readily," she
answered. "Forgetfulness can only come with time, Sir John, you must
understand that."
"Perfectly. I do not expect to enjoy the luxury of being ill-tempered
without having to pay the price for it. I only ask that you may not make
the price too heavy. When you choose to return to the Abbey you shall
find a welcome."
Sir John did not wait for any answer, nor had Barbara the opportunity of
thinking over what he had said just then, for the moment her uncle left
her another claimed her attention.
Still Sydney Fellowes watched her. It was evidently not her uncle for
whom she had been waiting.
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