Then she stood waiting, with the strangest gleam in her eyes, while Ranelagh drained his glass and I drained mine.

Ranelagh thought she wanted some sentiment, and started to say something appropriate; but his eye fell on Carmel, who had tried to drink and couldn't, and he bungled over his words and at last came to a pause under the steady stare of Adelaide's eyes.
"'Never mind, Elwood,' she said; 'I know what you would like to say.

But that's not what I am thinking of now.

I am thinking of my brother, the boy who will soon be left to find his way through life without even the unwelcome restraint of my presence.

I want him to remember this day.