Pagina 471 di 896

He spoke with the diffidence of a man who knew how slight a thing

would overset the delicate organisation of the mind, and yet with

the confidence of a man who had slowly won his assurance out of

personal endurance and distress. It was not for his friend to

abate that confidence. He professed himself more relieved and

encouraged than he really was, and approached his second and last

point. He felt it to be the most difficult of all; but,

remembering his old Sunday morning conversation with Miss Pross,

and remembering what he had seen in the last nine days, he knew

that he must face it.