Once he realized that he loved her, the confession of his love was quite inevitable.

Yet he felt vaguely that he might be judged blameworthy.

He had read a few novels, and he knew that even the writers whose chief business it is to glorify the passion of love do not dare to represent it as independent of money.

He knew, too, that many penniless heroes won admiration--he did not in the least understand why they should--by silently deserting affectionate women.

He knew that kisses were immoral except for those who possessed a modest competence.