But Duncan came to me about six months afterwards and asked me to put up his banns.
'"I wanted Susan Locke," he said, in a shamefaced manner, "but that sister of hers hinders our marrying; so, as I must think of the children, I have got Janet Sharpe to promise me.

She is a good, steady lass, and Susan speaks well of her."' Uncle Max had told his story without interruption.

I listened to it with almost painful interest.
With what quiet self-denial this homely woman had put aside her own hopes of happiness for the sake of the sickly creature dependent on her! She had owned her affection for Duncan with the utmost simplicity; but in her unselfishness she refused to burden him with her responsibilities.

If she married him she must do her duty by him and his children, and she felt that Phoebe would be a drag on her strength and time.
'She is a good woman, Uncle Max,' I observed, when he had finished.
'She is working herself to death, and Phoebe never gives her a word of comfort.' 'How can you expect it ?' he replied quietly.

'You cannot draw comfort out of empty wells, and poor Phoebe's heart is like a broken cistern, holding nothing.' 'But surely you talk to her, Uncle Max ?' 'I have tried to do so,' he answered sadly; 'but for the last year she has refused to see me, and Hamilton has advised me to keep away.