'No harm, dearest; and yet the thing is so abominable that I can hardly bring myself to wound your ears with it.' 'You must tell now, John.' 'Yes, I must tell you.

I have thought about it much, and I know that it is better that you should be told.' He had thought much about it, and had so resolved.

But he had not quite known how difficult the telling would be.

And now he was aware that he was adding to the horror she would feel by pausing and making much of the thing.

And yet he could not tell it as though it were a light matter.