The silence was profound and painful.

She was the first to break it.
"Interrupt me no more," she said, suppressing her emotion.

"Hear me through.

Robert of Stramen and Albert of Hers were rivals for my love, and they began to hate each other bitterly on my account.

I loved neither, for I had promised to marry Albert of the Thorn, and I loved him as much as my vain heart was able to love anything.