Why won't you let me ?" I was in a difficulty.

To say that I was in ill-health and about to resign my seat in Parliament and a slave to doctor's orders was one thing; it was another to tell her brutally that I had received my death warrant.

She would have taken it much more to heart than I do.
The announcement would have been a shock.

It would have kept the poor girl awake of nights.

She would have been for ever seeing the hand of Death at my throat.