When she came gliding in like that, a slender, rounded figure, her creamy, dark-eyed, oval face all cloudy, she seemed to Winton to have grown up of a sudden.  He had known all day that something was coming, and had been cudgelling his brains finely.  From the fervour of his love for her, he felt an anxiety that was almost fear.  What could have happened last night—­that first night of her entrance into society—­meddlesome, gossiping society!  She slid down to the floor against his knee.  He could not see her face, could not even touch her; for she had settled down on his right side.  He mastered his tremors and said: 

“Well, Gyp—­tired?”

“No.”

“A little bit?”

“No.”

“Was it up to what you thought, last night?”

“Yes.”

The logs hissed and crackled; the long flames ruffled in the chimney-draught; the wind roared outside—­then, so suddenly that it took his breath away: 

“Dad, are you really and truly my father?”

When that which one has always known might happen at last does happen, how little one is prepared!  In the few seconds before an answer that could in no way be evaded, Winton had time for a tumult of reflection.  A less resolute character would have been caught by utter mental blankness, then flung itself in panic on “Yes” or “No.”  But Winton was incapable of losing his head; he would not answer without having faced the consequences of his reply.  To be her father was the most warming thing in his life; but if he avowed it, how far would he injure her love for him?  What did a girl know?  How make her understand?  What would her feeling be about her dead mother?  How would that dead loved one feel?  What would she have wished?

It was a cruel moment.  And the girl, pressed against his knee, with face hidden, gave him no help.  Impossible to keep it from her, now that her instinct was roused!  Silence, too, would answer for him.  And clenching his hand on the arm of his chair, he said: 

“Yes, Gyp; your mother and I loved each other.”  He felt a quiver go through her, would have given much to see her face.  What, even now, did she understand?  Well, it must be gone through with, and he said: 

“What made you ask?”

She shook her head and murmured: 

“I’m glad.”

Grief, shock, even surprise would have roused all his loyalty to the dead, all the old stubborn bitterness, and he would have frozen up against her.  But this acquiescent murmur made him long to smooth it down.

“Nobody has ever known.  She died when you were born.  It was a fearful grief to me.  If you’ve heard anything, it’s just gossip, because you go by my name.  Your mother was never talked about.  But it’s best you should know, now you’re grown up.  People don’t often love as she and I loved.  You needn’t be ashamed.”

She had not moved, and her face was still turned from him.  She said quietly: