"His record is a very brilliant one and he ought to get more comfort out of the remembrance of it.

Let's conspire, you and I, to make him sun himself in the achievements and activities of those earlier years.

What do you say ?" "Oh! do it, do it," she answered fervently.

"He is sad--and I am so afraid that it is partly my fault." "Your fault?
Why what wicked practises have you been up to since I was here last ?" he asked, teasing her.
A question evoking, in Damaris, sharp inward debate.

For her father's melancholy humour weighed on her, causing her perplexity and a measure of self-reproach.