For a quarter of an hour he strayed over subjects, each of which, he thought, might bring him to the point.
A question from Alice eventually gave him the requisite impulse.
'What's the bad news you've got to tell me, Dick ?' she asked shyly.
'Bad news?
Why, yes, I suppose it is bad, and it's no use pretending anything else.

I've brought you down here just to tell it you.

Somebody must know first, and it had better be somebody who'll listen patiently, and perhaps help me to get over it.

I don't know quite how you'll take it, Alice.

For anything I can tell you may get up and be off, and have nothing more to do with me.' 'Why, what ever can it be, Dick?
Don't talk nonsense.