Don't be offended, Maurice, either with her or with me, but I did fancy once or twice that she wished to be away before you came.

Only, mind, that is simply my fancy." "I have no doubt you fancied right; but I have a thousand questions to ask you.

Tell me first--" "Maurice," interrupted Mr.Bellairs from the other side of the room, "what is this your father says about going away immediately?
You can't be in earnest in such a scheme!" "I am afraid I am," Maurice answered, getting up and standing with his arm resting on the mantelpiece, "at least, if my father can stand the journey." Mr.Leigh, full of self-reproach and secret disturbance, vowed that the journey would do him good; that he was eager to see the old country once again.

He had resolved, as the penance for his blunder, that he would not be the means of hindering his boy one day in his quest for Lucia.
Nevertheless, the discussion grew warm, for Mr.Bellairs having vainly protested against a winter voyage for the Costellos, had his arguments all ready and in order, and had no scruple in bringing them to bear upon Maurice.

Of course, they were thrown away, just so many wasted words; the angry impatient longing that was in the young man's heart would have been strong enough to overthrow all the arguments in the universe.