You are to share my solitude.

Do you understand ?" I shook my head: it required a degree of courage, excited as he was becoming, even to risk that mute sign of dissent.

He had been walking fast about the room, and he stopped, as if suddenly rooted to one spot.
He looked at me long and hard: I turned my eyes from him, fixed them on the fire, and tried to assume and maintain a quiet, collected aspect.
"Now for the hitch in Jane's character," he said at last, speaking more calmly than from his look I had expected him to speak.

"The reel of silk has run smoothly enough so far; but I always knew there would come a knot and a puzzle: here it is.

Now for vexation, and exasperation, and endless trouble! By God! I long to exert a fraction of Samson's strength, and break the entanglement like tow!" He recommenced his walk, but soon again stopped, and this time just before me.
"Jane! will you hear reason ?" (he stooped and approached his lips to my ear); "because, if you won't, I'll try violence." His voice was hoarse; his look that of a man who is just about to burst an insufferable bond and plunge headlong into wild license.