He had already perceived that his marriage with a Christian would be regarded in that stronghold of prejudice in which he lived with so much animosity as to impede, and perhaps destroy, the utility of his career.

He would go away, taking Nina with him.

And he would be careful that she should never know, by a word or a look, that he had in any way suffered for her sake.

And he swore to himself that he would be soft to her, and gentle, loving her with a love more demonstrative than he had hitherto exhibited.

He knew that he had been stern, exacting, and sometimes harsh.