But I think it would come better from you.

You are nearer to them than I am; and it will have less a look of triumph on my part, and less also of disappointment on yours, if you write.

If you tell them that you literally threw away your chance, you will only tell them the truth.' Norman assented, but he said nothing further.

What business had Alaric to utter such words as triumph and disappointment?
He could not keep his arm, on which Alaric was leaning, from spasmodically shrinking from the touch.

He had been beaten by a man, nay worse, had yielded to a man, who had not the common honesty to refuse a bribe; and yet he was bound to love this man.
He could not help asking himself the question which he would do.
Would he love him or hate him?
But while he was so questioning himself, he got home, and had to sit down and write his letter--this he did at once, but not without difficulty.