When I tell him that, he'll only say that he won't consider it final, and we'll wait and see.

Then the argument begins all over again." "And so, I tell you, at the risk of repeating myself, that you must make up your own mind positively first; then, if an adverse decision, you must tell him, so positively that he can't misunderstand.

_Then_, if he refuses to give up all hope, it isn't your fault." "That's good, sound talk, Nan, and I will try to do just as you say.
But--well, here's the thing in a nutshell.

I like Phil so much that I hate to tell him I can't love him." "Then get that out of the nutshell, and put this in.

If you like him so much, it's your duty to tell him you can't love him.