“Gentle he would be, denied he would not.”

“He wanted to laugh; the vision of her pounding that wee boy in a fury of berserk rage, hair flying in the wind and a look of blood in her eye, was one he would treasure.”

“Do ye not understand?"he said, in near desparation. "I would lay the world at your feet, Claire-and I have nothing to give ye!" He honestly thought it mattered.”

“More than most men, he valued his name-I only hoped that given time, it would once more have value.”

“I chose my way when I wed ye, though I kent it not at the time. But I chose, and cannot now turn back, even if I would.''Would you?' I looked into his eyes as I asked, and read the answer there. He shook his head.'Would you? For you have chosen, as much as I.”

“I can bear pain myself, he said softly, but I couldna bear yours. That would take more strength than I have.”

“You aren't doing it for the sake of ideals, are you? Not for the sake of...liberty. Freedom, self determination, all that.'He shook his head. 'No,' he said softly.'Why, then? I asked, more gently.'For you,' he said without hesitation. '...For my family. For the future. And if that is not an ideal, I've never heard of one.”