I never dare say my soul's my own in the presence of that woman." Val strolled away as he spoke.

He was not at ease that day, and the sharp, meddling old woman would have been intolerable.

It was all very well to put a good face on matters to Anne, but he was in more perplexity than he cared to confess to.

It seemed to him that he would rather die than give up Anne: and yet--in the straightforward, practical good sense of Dr.Ashton, he had a formidable adversary to deal with.
He suddenly found an arm inserted within his own, and saw it was his brother.

Walking together thus, there was a great resemblance between them.
They were of the same height, much the same build; both were very good-looking men, but Percival had the nicer features; and he was fair, and his brother dark.
"What is this, Val, about a dispute with the doctor ?" began Lord Hartledon.
"It was not a dispute," returned Val.