“'Yes,' he answered. 'But have you thought?—this talk of war, these reckless challenges, these wild aggressions—'
“I stood up.
“'No,' I cried. 'I won't hear you. I took count of all those things, I weighed them—and I have come away.'
“He seemed to consider the possibility of persistence. He looked from me to where the lady sat regarding us.
“'War,' he said, as if he were speaking to himself, and then turned slowly from me and walked away. I stood, caught in the whirl of thoughts his appeal had set going.
“I heard my lady's voice.
“'Dear,' she said; 'but if they have need of you—'
“She did not finish her sentence, she let it rest there. I turned to her sweet face, and the balance of my mood swayed and reeled.
“'They want me only to do the thing they dare not do themselves,' I said. 'If they distrust Evesham they must settle with him themselves.'
“She looked at me doubtfully.