Has any one dared to slander me,--and for what ?" "No one would dare to breathe aught of evil against you in my presence," said he, with great dignity; "but the covert whisper may pass from lip to lip, and the meaning glance flash from eye to eye, when your friend and protector is not near to shield you from aspersion, and vindicate your fame." "Stop," I exclaimed; "you terrify--you destroy me!" The room spun round like a top.

Every thing looked misty and black.

I caught hold of Mr.Regulus's arm to keep me from falling.

Foes in ambush, glittering tomahawks, deadly scalping-knives, were less terrible than my dark imaginings.
"Bless me," cried my master, seating me in his great arm-chair and fanning me with an atlas which he caught from his desk, "I did not mean to frighten you, my child.

I wanted to advise, to counsel you, to _prevent_ misconstruction and unkind remark.