Yes; I will bear it; and none shall dare in my hearing to speak against you.

I have brought you here to say the word; nay, more than that,--to advise you to say it." He stood silent for a moment, during which he held her by the hand.
She was looking into his face, but he was looking away into the clouds; striving to appear as though he was the master of the occasion.

But during those moments his mind was wracked with doubt.
What if he should take her at her word?
Some few would say bitter things against him, but such bitter things had been said against many another man without harming him.

Would it not be well for both if he should take her at her word?
She would recover and love again, as other girls had done; and as for him, he would thus escape from the ruin at which he had been gazing for the last week past.

For it was ruin,--utter ruin.