"Will you believe it?
I did not know; I did not dream of it." His face changed as though something within him was being darkly aroused.
"After all," he said, "no man ever lived who could kill hope." "There is no hope to kill--" "No chance, Shiela ?" "There has never been any chance--" She was trembling; he took both her hands.

They were ice cold.
He straightened up, squaring his shoulders.

"This won't do," he said.
"I'm not going to distress you--frighten you again." The smile he forced was certainly a credit to him.
"Shiela, you'd love me if you could, wouldn't you ?" "Y-yes," with a shiver.
"Then it's all right and you mustn't worry....

Can't we get back to the old footing again ?" "N-no; it's gone." "Then we'll find even firmer ground." "Yes--firmer ground, Mr.Hamil." He released her chilled hands, swung around, and took a thoughtful step or two.
"Firmer, safer ground," he repeated.

"Once you said to me, 'Let us each enjoy our own griefs unmolested.'" He laughed.