The news had been communicated to him, and he had said all that he could say on the subject.

He had at once determined to confine himself to a general view of the matter, and to avoid details,--which might be personal to himself.

But Gerard had been specially required to force his father into details.

Had he been left to himself he would certainly have thought that the conversation had gone far enough.

He was inclined, almost as well as his father, to avoid present discomfort.