"It was the sight of her that frightened me so."
"I do not wonder, Clarissa. I have tried and tried to account for her close resemblance to death, when she is physically such a perfect specimen of health. Try to do me justice. I am not so unnatural a man as to torture any person."
"You threatened to make me fear my children."
"I did no such thing. Only a vicious coward would do that. What a husband I must have been to you, when you suspect me of doing such things!"
"You did say so, William; that was what alarmed me."
"I say I did not. I said I could do it."
"I say you cannot."
"I shall never try. You are no more proud of the children than I, and you may be sure if they never suffer injury or injustice at any but their father's hands, they will have a pleasant life. Tell me why you were so angry, when I wanted to help Augustus. Can you not realize how I feel, when I know he is passing through life maimed for my sin? Is it not a duty I owe him to use every means in my power to assist him to walk? No person has ever been injured by my influence."
"Merle has."