He had promised to do so immediately on his arrival, and he was aware that he would be regarded as being already one day beyond his promise.
Lily had told him that she would live upon his letters, and it was absolutely necessary that he should furnish her with her first meal.
So he betook himself to his room in sufficient time before dinner, and got out his pen, ink, and paper.
He got out his pen, ink, and paper, and then he found that his difficulties were beginning.

I beg that it may be understood that Crosbie was not altogether a villain.

He could not sit down and write a letter as coming from his heart, of which as he wrote it he knew the words to be false.

He was an ungenerous, worldly, inconstant man, very prone to think well of himself, and to give himself credit for virtues which he did not possess; but he could not be false with premeditated cruelty to a woman he had sworn to love.

He could not write an affectionate, warm-hearted letter to Lily, without bringing himself, at any rate for the time, to feel towards her in an affectionate, warm-hearted way.