`` He has never married -- he has not forgotten you , '' she said fiercely . `` I could not rest in my grave if I thought you would disgrace your family by marrying beneath you . Promise me , Margaret . '' I promised . I would have promised anything in my power to make her dying pillow easier . Besides , what did it matter ? I was sure that Hugh would never think of me again . She smiled when she heard me , and pressed my hand . `` Good little sister -- that is right . You were always a good girl , Margaret -- good and obedient , though a little sentimental and foolish in some ways . You are like our mother -- she was always weak and loving . I took after the Merediths . '' She did , indeed . Even in her coffin her dark , handsome features preserved their expression of pride and determination . Somehow , that last look of her dead face remained in my memory , blotting out the real affection and gentleness which her living face had almost always shown me . This distressed me , but I could not help it . I wished to think of her as kind and loving , but I could remember only the pride and coldness with which she had crushed out my new-born happiness . Yet I felt no anger or resentment towards her for what she had done . I knew she had meant it for the best -- my best . It was only that she was mistaken .
And then , a month after she had died , Hugh Blair came XXXXX me and asked me to be his wife .
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