How fond he would still be of her.

How tender their mutual regard would still be.

Then his present feeling for her would not be amiss.
They ought to be sitting peacefully together at this moment, not in this intolerably embarrassing personal relation towards each other, but at ease with each other, talking over their boy at Eton, and the new pony for their little daughters.

He did not want to _begin_ being married to her now.
She knew what he felt.
"Magdalen," he said, "I am distressed that I have taken you by surprise.
I had hoped that you were prepared to see me.

But my coming is not, I trust, painful to you." A pulse fluttered in her cheek.
"I am glad to see you," she said.