Usually he met sudden emergencies rather calmly, sometimes with phlegmatic indifference.

This passionate outburst on the priest's part, however, surprised him and awed him, while it stirred his heart with a profound sympathy unlike anything he had ever felt before.
Father Beret mastered himself in a moment, and passing his hand over his face, as if to brush away the excitement, sat down again on his stool.

He appeared to collapse inwardly.
"You must excuse the weakness of an old man, my son," he said, in a voice hoarse and shaking.

"But tell me what is going to be done with Alice.

Your words--what you said--I did not understand." He rubbed his forehead slowly, as one who has difficulty in trying to collect his thoughts.
"I do not know what Governor Hamilton means to do, Father Beret.