But as he said nothing I suggested that he should stroll out
with me among the orange-groves by which the town is surrounded. In
answer to this he looked up piteously into my face as though begging
me to be merciful to him. "You are strong," said he, "and cannot
understand what it is to feel fatigue as I do." And yet he had
declared on commencing his journey that he would not be found to
complain? Nor had he complained by a single word till after that
encounter with his uncle. Nay, he had borne up well till this news
had reached us of the boat being late. I felt convinced that if the
boat were at this moment lying in the harbour all that appearance of
excessive weakness would soon vanish. What it was that he feared I
could not guess; but it was manifest to me that some great terror
almost overwhelmed him.
"My idea is," said I, and I suppose that I spoke with something less
of good-nature in my tone than I had assumed for the last day or
two, "that no man should, under any circumstances, be so afraid of
another man, as to tremble at his presence,--either at his presence
or his expected presence."
"Ah, now you are angry with me; now you despise me!"
"Neither the one nor the other.
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