Her colour faded away; her heart sank; but it still seemed to her an outrage that he should have dared to speak of it.

He spoke, however, before she could.
"Forgive me," he said, recovering his self-control.

"I know it must seem mere insolence on my part.

But I can't help it--I can't look on at such a thing, silently.

May I explain?
Please permit me! I told you"-- his voice changed--"my mother and sisters had been burnt to death.
I adored my mother.