Of a sudden his lips and tongue were very dry, and he felt a disagreeable chill running down his back.

For the listener's face had altered noticeably; it was dark, stern, and something worse.

But Mr.
Lord could still speak with self-control.
'You have asked her to marry you ?' 'Yes, I have; and she has consented.' Horace felt his courage returning, like the so-called 'second wind' of a runner.

It seemed to him that he had gone through the worst.

The disclosure was made, and had resulted in no outbreak of fury; now he could begin to plead his cause.