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The Sea-Hawk by Rafael Sabatini
page 76 of 460 (16%)

Sir Oliver smiled wistfully. He put out a hand and took his brother's.

"'Tis noble in you to propose it, Lal."

"Not half so noble as it is in you to bear all the suffering for a deed
that was my own."

"Bah!" Sir Oliver shrugged impatiently; his glance fell away from
Lionel's face and returned to the consideration of the fire. "After
all, I can throw off the burden when I will. Such knowledge as that
will enhearten a man through any trial."

He had spoken in a harsh, cynical tone, and Lionel had turned cold at
his words. He stood a long while in silence there, turning them over in
his mind and considering the riddle which they presented him. He
thought of asking his brother bluntly for the key to it, for the precise
meaning of his disconcerting statement, but courage failed him. He
feared lest Sir 0liver should confirm his own dread interpretation of
it.

He drew away after a time, and soon after went to bed. For days
thereafter the phrase rankled in his mind--"I can throw off the burden
when I will." Conviction grew upon him that Sir Oliver meant that he
was enheartened by the knowledge that by speaking if he choose he could
clear himself. That Sir Oliver would so speak he could not think.
Indeed, he was entirely assured that Sir Oliver was very far from
intending to throw off his burden. Yet he might come to change his
mind. The burden might grow too heavy, his longings for Rosamund too
clamorous, his grief at being in her eyes her brother's murderer too
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