"Had things been other than they are, Mr Dale would have done well."
"And had they been other than they are, I might well have answered yes," said Nell.
"Why yes, very well," said the King. "For Mr Dale is, I'm very sure, a gentleman of spirit and honour, although he seems, if I may say so, just now rather taciturn."
"But as matters are, Mr Dale would have no more of me."
"It's not for me," said the King, "to quarrel with his resolve, although I'm free to marvel at it."
"And asks no more of me than leave to depart."
"Do you find it hard, madame, to grant him that much?"
She looked in the King's face and laughed in amusement, but whether at him or me or herself I cannot tell.
"Why, yes, mighty hard," said she. "It's strange how hard."
"By my faith," said the King, "I begin to be glad that Mr Dale asked no more. For if it be hard to grant him this little thing, it might have been easy to grant him more. Come, is it granted to him?"