But I can bear pain; I promise to distress nobody.

Will you excuse me if I repeat my request ?" She held out her hand--the soft, white, virgin hand that had touched nothing to soil it or harden it yet.
"Oh, Magdalen, think again!" said Norah.
"You distress Mr.Pendril," added Miss Garth; "you distress us all." "There can be no end gained," pleaded the lawyer--"forgive me for saying so--there can really be no useful end gained by my showing you the instructions." ("Fools!" said Mr.Clare to himself.

"Have they no eyes to see that she means to have her own way ?") "Something tells me there is an end to be gained," persisted Magdalen.
"This decision is a very serious one.

It is more serious to me--" She looked round at Mr.Clare, who sat closely watching her, and instantly looked back again, with the first outward betrayal of emotion which had escaped her yet.

"It is even more serious to me," she resumed, "for private reasons--than it is to my sister.