Yes, he had loved her--he knew that now more assuredly than ever; and he tried to place that love away from him by a play upon words in the past tense; but deep down in his heart he knew that he was merely trying to deceive himself.
He loved her still; and the fact that he loved her but could not marry her added fuel to the flames of his torment.
That long night was mostly a hideous nightmare and even after he awoke from a fitful sleep next morning, he was in a stupor.

After a while, he went out into the wintry air.

It was Sunday, and the town was comparatively quiet.

He found something to eat at a lunch counter, then he walked about briskly to try to get his blood into active circulation.
Again he went to his room.
Presently, he heard the ringing of church bells.

The folks would be going to Sunday school in Greenstreet.