If they could be here and know of this, they'd go down on their knees to you.

You _can't_ rob them of a chance! It's like snatching a bit of bread out of their mouths when they're dying of hunger.' The fervour with which he pleaded went far to convince himself; for the moment he lost sight of everything but the necessity of persuading Adela, and his zeal could scarcely have been greater had he been actuated by the purest unselfishness.

He was speaking as Adela had never heard him speak, with modulations of the voice which were almost sentimental, like one pleading for love.

In his heart he despaired of removing her scruples, but he overcame this with vehement entreaty.
A true instinct forbade him to touch on her own interests; he had not lived so long with Adela without attaining some perception of the nobler ways of thought.

But as often as he raised his eyes to hers he saw the futility of all his words.