shookmyhead:itrequiredadegreeofce,excitedashewasbeioriskthatmutesignofdissent.Hehadbeenwalkingfastabouttheroom,aopped,asifsuddenlyrootedtoo.Helookedatmelongandhard:Iturnedmyeyesfromhim,fixedthemonthefire,andtriedtoassumeandmaintainaquiet,collectedaspect.

    “NowforthehitJane’scharacter,”hesaidatlast,speakingmorecalmlythanfromhislookIhadexpectedhimtospeak.“Thereelofsilkhasrunsmoothlyenoughsofar;butIalwayskherewouldeaknotandapuzzle:hereitis.Nowforvexation,andexasperation,anderouble!ByGod!IloafraofSamson’sstrength,aheentaliketow!”

    Hereencedhiswalk,butsoonagainstopped,andthistimejustbeforeme.

    “Jane!willyouhearreason?”(hestoopedandapproachedhislipstomyear);“because,ifyouwon’t,I’lltryviolence.”Hisvoicewashoarse;hislookthatofamanwhoisjustabouttoburstaninsufferablebondandplungeheadlongintowildlise.Isawthatinanothermoment,andwithoneimpetusoffrenzymore,Ishouldbeabletodonothingwithhim.Thepresent—thepassingsee—wasallIhadinwhichtotrolarainhim—amovementofrepulsion,flight,fearwouldhavesealedmydoom,—andhis.ButIwasnotafraid:notintheleast.Ifeltaninower;asenseofinfluence,whichsupportedme.Thecrisiserilous;butnotwithoutitscharm:suchastheIndian,perhaps,feelswhenheslipsovertherapidinhisoe.Itookholdofhischedhand,loosehetortedfingers,andsaidtohim,soothingly—

    “Sitdown;I’lltalktoyouaslongasyoulike,andhearallyouhavetosay,whetherreasonableorunreasonable.”

    Hesatdown:buthedidleavetospeakdirectly.Ihadbeenstrugglingwithtearsforsometime:Ihadtakepainstorepressthem,becauseIknewhe