He looked as woebegone as I felt, and I could not help laughing at the pair of us, for I knew that his trouble was akin to mine.

The pain of love is ludicrous to all save those who feel it.

Even to them it is laughable in others.

A love-full heart has no room for that sort of charity which pities for kinship's sake.
"What is the trouble with you, Sir John, that you look so downcast ?" said I, offering my hand.
"Ah," he answered, forcing a poor look of cheerfulness into his face, "Sir Malcolm, I am glad to see you.

Do I look downcast ?" "As forlorn as a lover who has missed seeing his sweetheart," I responded, guessing the cause of Sir John's despondency.
"I have no sweetheart, therefore missing her could not have made me downcast," he replied.
"So you really did miss her ?" I queried.