They were united, for the most part, but by his exhausted patience; so that indulgent despair was generally, at the best, his note.

He at present, however, actually compromised with his despair to the extent of practically admitting that he had followed her steps.

He literally asked, in short, an intelligent, well nigh a sympathising, question.

"Gratitude to the Prince for not having put a spoke in her wheel--that, you mean, should, taking it in the right way, be precisely the ballast of her boat ?" "Taking it in the right way." Fanny, catching at this gleam, emphasised the proviso.
"But doesn't it rather depend on what she may most feel to BE the right way ?" "No--it depends on nothing.

Because there's only one way--for duty or delicacy." "Oh--delicacy!" Bob Assingham rather crudely murmured.
"I mean the highest kind--moral.