He began to treat me with a little respect after that.
There is scarcely a month goes by that he does not bring up the subject.

I think he has never abandoned the hope that I may give in, after all.
Lately he has taken to chuckling when I make my monthly protest against accepting this money.

He can't believe it of me.

He thinks there is something amusing about what I have been foolish enough to call my sense of honour.

Still, I believe he has a little better opinion of me than he had at first.