“I want to, but I’m afraid.”
And directly she had told him that she felt less afraid.
“What are you afraid of?”
“I’m afraid of you.”
“Of me?”
“Of what you may think of me, feel towards me, if I tell you.”
“Then—you do care what I feel?”
“I care very much. I care terribly.”
Sir Seymour uncrossed his legs and made a slight movement as if he were going to get up. Then he sat still and took a pull at his cigar, and then he said:
“You need not be afraid of me, Adela. I have made up my mind about you. Do you know what that means? It means that you cannot surprise me. And I think it is surprise which oftenest brings about changes in feeling. What is it? You say it is something to do with Miss Van Tuyn?”