And I don't think I am easily frightened." "I am sure you are not," he said.

"If I may be allowed to say so, I think you are essentially a woman to be relied on.

If I did not think so, I certainly should not have spoken as I have done." "Then will you tell me what it is that you fear for her ?" Avery said.
He was looking straight at her through the gloom, but she could not see his eyes behind their glasses.

"Well," he said somewhat brusquely at length, "to be quite honest, I fear--mind you, I only fear--some trouble, possibly merely some delicacy, of the lungs.

Without a careful examination I cannot speak definitely.