Things are headed for a great crisis and it is necessary that you should know.

It's going to shock you--" He paused, eyeing her quizzically.

But her mind, occupied with the safety of the man she loved, understood but vaguely what he was saying.
The brother took advantage of her preoccupation to gather additional courage for the communication which he had to impart.

He saw clearly that she was resolved to discard her husband, that it would be futile to combat her determination.

Other occasions there had been, many of them, when he had averted a final parting between them.