He had hoped to produce a happy climax, with Ward present as a conflicting factor, to be carried by jealousy into some foolish act that would result in open hostility between him and Beard.
The happy climax, Britz succeeded in producing.

But it was a most dignified, genteel, quiet climax.

No emotional outburst occurred, no storm of happiness swept the girl or Beard.

The joy they felt was not of the wild, unharnessed kind.

It was like an internal bath of sunshine, peaceful, radiant, diffusing a quiet happiness about them.
Nor did Ward give any outward sign of being torn by violent emotions.