Much misery that had hitherto come upon him, and that was about to come on all those whom he loved so well, arose from this lack of courage.

He did not dare to tell his son that he advised him for the present to put aside all such hopes.

It would have been terrible for him to do so; but he knew that in not doing so he was occasioning sorrow that would be more terrible.
And yet he did not do it.

Herbert saw clearly that the project was distasteful to his father,--that project which he had hoped to have seen received with so much delight; but nothing was said to him which tended to make him alter his purpose.
"Do you not like her ?" he asked his father, almost piteously.
"Yes, yes; I do like her, we all like her, very much indeed, Herbert." "Then why--" "You are so young, my boy, and she is so very young, and--" "And what ?" "Why, Herbert, it is not always practicable for the son even of a man of property to marry so early in life as this.

She has nothing, you know." "No," said the young man, proudly; "I never thought of looking for money." "But in your position it is so essential if a young man wishes to marry." Herbert had always regarded his father as the most liberal man breathing,--as open-hearted and open-handed almost to a fault.