He did not care to tame her now.

The firelight flashed and darkened, the crackling wood breaking the dead silence of the room.
"It does not matter," he said, raising his head, laying his arm over his strong chest unconsciously, as if to shut in all complaint.

"I had an idle fancy that it would be good on this Christmas night to bare the secrets hidden in here to you,--to suffer your pure eyes to probe the sorest depths: I thought perhaps they would have a blessing power.

It was an idle fancy.

What is my want or crime to you ?" The answer came slowly, but it did come.
"Nothing to me." She tried to meet the gaunt face looking down on her with its proud sadness,--did meet it at last with her meek eyes.
"No, nothing to you.