The instant her back was turned, I should repent my own weakness, and return to the medicine.

Here is a perpetual struggle in prospect, for a man who is already worn out.

Is it desirable, after what you have just seen, to expose me to that ?" It would have been useless cruelty to expose him to it.

How could I do otherwise than consent to make his sacrifice of himself--his _necessary_ sacrifice--as easy as I could?
At the same time, I implored him to remember one thing.
"Mind," I said, "we can never hope to keep her in ignorance of the change in you, when the change comes.

Sooner or later, some one will let the secret out." "I only want it to be concealed from her while the disfigurement of me is in progress," he answered.