Yet I suffered it in silence and contempt.
Was that to show myself easily stirred to ruthlessness?
What was it but forbearance?
When, however, he carries his petty huckster's rancour so far as to seek to choke for me my source of happiness in life and sends your brother to affront me, I am still so forbearing that I recognize your brother to be no more than a tool and go straight to the hand that wielded him.

Because I know of your affection for Sir John I gave him such latitude as no man of honour in England would have given him." Then seeing that she still avoided his regard, still sat in that frozen attitude of horror at learning that the man she loved had imbrued his hands with the blood of another whom she also loved, his pleading quickened to a warmer note.

He flung himself upon his knees beside her chair, and took in his great sinewy hands the slender fingers which she listlessly surrendered.

"Rose," he cried, and his deep voice quivered with intercession, "dismiss all that you have heard from out your mind.
Consider only this thing that has befallen.

Suppose that Lionel my brother came to you, and that, having some measure of power and authority to support him, he swore to you that you should never wed me, swore to prevent this marriage because he deemed you such a woman as could not bear my name with honour to myself; and suppose that to all this he added insult to the memory of your dead father, what answer would you return him?
Speak, Rose! Be honest with thyself and me.