"Then there's a chance of your being compensated for this long spell of suffering and idleness."
"As a matter of fact I have been compensated already."
"No! in which way?"
"Ah, that is not easy to explain," he said, turning away his eyes. "And you might not understand me if I tried."
"Am I so dense?"
"I don't think you are dense at all. But I am not good at saying things as they ought to be said. You will sympathise with me in that, I know."
"Oh, that is mere equivocation. You simply don't want to tell me."
"I would tell you a lot if I dared."
"Dared?"
"Yes. I should not like to drive you away or make you angry. Your friendship is very sweet to me—that is one of the compensations."