But Mrs.
Ambrose seemed to be very obtuse, and the vicar would have been the last to have spoken of his suspicions, even to the wife of his bosom.

It was his duty to induce John to go back to his work at the end of the week; it was not his duty to put imputations upon him which Mrs.Ambrose would naturally exaggerate and which would drive her excellent heart into a terrible state of nervous anxiety.
But Mrs.Goddard did not come back to the vicarage on that day, and John went to dinner with a sad heart.

It did not seem like a day at all if he had not seen her and talked with her.

He had now no doubt whatever that he was seriously in love, and he set himself to consider his position.
The more he considered it, the more irreconcilable it seemed to be with the passion which beset him.

A child could see that for several years, at least, he would not be in a position to marry.