Robert smiled, and laid his hand on the other's arm.
'No, Newcome, no; I am in no mood for H——.'
The High Churchman looked at him with a quick and painful anxiety visible in the stern eyes.
'Will you tell me what that means?'
'It means,' said Robert, clasping his hands tightly behind him, his pace slackening a little to meet that of Newcome—'it means that if you will give me your prayers, Newcome, your companionship sometimes, your pity always, I will thank you from the bottom of my heart. But I am in a state just now when I must fight my battles for myself, and in God's sight only!'
It was the first burst of confidence which had passed his lips to any one but Catherine.
Newcome stood still, a tremor of strong emotion running through the emaciated face.
'You are in trouble, Elsmere; I felt it, I knew it, when I first saw you!'
'Yes, I am in trouble,' said Robert quietly.
'Opinions?'