The passion of pity and tenderness that rushed over me as my eyes fell on his haggard face, so strong and yet so wan, swept away for the moment the defences against the public gaze.

I could have fallen down at his feet before them all and told him that I loved him.
A few moments more of the sound of commonplace words, and the repulsion of every-day faces and expressions, swept me back into the circle of conventionalities, and brought me under the force of that current that keeps us from high tragedy.
All during the meal Mr.Langenau was grave and silent, speaking little and then with effort.

He had overrated his strength, perhaps, for he went away before the end of the dinner, asking to be excused, in a tone almost inaudible.

After he had gone, a good many commentaries were offered.

Kilian seemed to express the sense of the assembly when he said: "The man looks shockingly, and he's not out of the woods yet." Sophie looked troubled: she had some compunctions for the neglect of the last few days, perhaps.
"What does the Doctor say ?" pursued her brother.
"Nothing, I suppose--for he hasn't been here for a week, almost." "Well, then, you'd better send for him, if you don't want the fellow to die on your hands.