But then, as he looked at her, it struck his lover's sense painfully how pale and miserable she was.

He could not scold! But it came home to him strongly that for her own sake and his it would be better there should be explanations.

After all things had been going untowardly for many weeks.

His nature moved slowly and with much self-doubt, but it was plain to him now that he must make a stand.
After his cry, her first instinct was to apologise.

Then the words stuck in her throat.