But a fortnight or more had elapsed without his hearing anything from her, and he had come to the conclusion that hymeneal joys must have driven all thoughts of business out of her little head.
After hearing that Roberta March intended protracting her stay in the country the desire came to him to go down there himself.

He would like to have the novel experience of that region in autumn, and he would like to see Roberta, but he could not help acknowledging to himself that the proceeding would scarcely be a wise one, especially as he must go without the desired safeguard of knowing what kind of man Miss March had once been willing to accept.

He felt that if he went down to the neighborhood of Midbranch one of the battles of his life would begin, and that when he held up before him his figurative shield, he would see in its inner mirror that, on account of his own disposition toward the lady, he was in a condition of great peril.

But, for all that, he wanted very much to go, and no one will be surprised to learn that he did go.
He was a little embarrassed at first in regard to the pretext which he should make to himself for such a journey.

Whatever satisfactory excuse he could make to himself in this case would, of course, do for other people.