They walked a few steps in silence, and then he went on:
"He never will care," he said, "unless something happens to rouse him."
"I am obliged to confess," said Tredennis, "that I am afraid I am prepared to underrate him. And it seemed to me that there wasn't much in him to rouse."
"Oh, you'll underrate him," returned the professor, "at first. And you may never get over it; but there are also ten chances to one that you do. I did."
"You began by underrating him?"
"I don't overrate him now," said the professor. "I don't know that I am particularly fond of him, though there have been moments—just moments—when I have been threatened with it. But I have come to the conclusion that there is something in him to rouse, and that it wouldn't be the wisest thing in the world to rouse it."
"Do you mean," said Tredennis, slowly, "that it would take a woman to rouse it?"
"Yes," answered the professor, just as slowly, "it would take a woman. And there are circumstances under which it would be better for the woman if she let what she might rouse lie and sleep."
"For instance?" said Tredennis, with a fierce leap of every pulse in his body.