So I talked on, not so much in the hope of convincing him as to keep saying something; for I durst not look up, and feared to hear an angry word from him when I should stop.

But at last I had spoken all I could, and ceased because I had no more.

Yet he did not break out as I had thought, but there was silence; and after a moment I looked up, and saw by his face that his thoughts were wandering.

When he spoke there was no anger in his voice, but only something sad.
'Thou art a foolish lad,' he said.

'Yet I was young once myself, and my ways have been too dark to make me wish to darken others, or try to chill young blood.