he spoke with the diffidence of a man who knew how slight a thing would overset the delicate organisation of the mind, and yet with the confidence of a man who had slowly won his assurance out of personal endurance and distress. it was not for his friend to abate that confidence. he professed himself more relieved and encouraged than he really was, and approached his second and last point. he felt it to be the most difficult of all; but, remembering his old sunday morning conversation with miss pross, and remembering what he had seen in the last nine days, he knew that he must face it.