"Everard," she said, "there are times when you make me afraid." "Why ?" he said.
She could not put it into words.

She made a piteous gesture with her clasped hands.
His expression changed, subtly softening.

"I can't always wear kid gloves, my Stella," he said.

"When there is rough work to be done, we have to strip to the waist sometimes to get to it.

It's the only way to get a sane grip on things." Her lips were quivering.