I had to endure many of them in my former life." Oh! so that was it! Just for fear of a scandal and because she had known disagreeable things! Not a jot of feeling for himself! And Tristram got up quickly and walked to the fireplace.

He was cut to the heart.
The case was utterly hopeless, he felt.

He was frozen and stung each time he even allowed himself to be human and hope for anything.

But he was a strong man, and this should be the end of it.

He would not be tortured again.
He took the little bunch of flowers out of his pocket and handed it to her quietly, while his face was full of pain.
"Here is the proof you left me of your kind interest," he told her.
"Perhaps your maid will miss it and wish to sew it on." And then without another word he went out of the room.
Zara, left alone, sat staring into the fire.