She obeyed him with a kind of fearless fear—a courage mixed with a desire to avoid this man.
“Thou art on good terms with thy conquest.”
“Gratitude, Bertram.”
“A good word—a good word.”
“Were I bluntly candid, Bertram, I should say that near thee I never feel so honest as when thou art distant; but now as I stood by Alice, I marvelled much how I seemed to enjoy all things about me, and how much I felt inclined to good.”
“I love thee, Robert, as a father would his son—his only son.”
“Aye—but truly the advice of a father is ever godly.”
“Is it likely I am the fiend? Tush!—drown your cares; rejoin the knights and cavaliers—do as they do—thou art no worse than they!”
“Verily!”
“And thou art rich!”