He had been amazed to hear her allude, as she had done on the previous night, to such abstractions as honor, religion, her husband.

He could not see what they had to do with the matter in hand.

He could not see why such considerations should be potent to exercise a restraining influence on the intentions of a man and a woman who love each other.
Well, now it would appear that she had cast to the winds all such considerations as she had enumerated, and was prepared to live under the rule of love alone, and it was at his suggestion she was doing so.
For a moment or two he saw her as she was: a woman in the midst of a seething ocean, throwing up her hands and finding an absolute relief in going down--down--down into very hell.

For a moment or two his heart was full of pity for her.

Who could be a spectator of a woman's struggles for life in the midst of that turbulent sea of passion which was overwhelming her, and refrain from feeling pity?
That letter which lay before him represented the agonizing cry of a drowning creature; one whom the long struggle has made delirious; one who looks forward to going down with the delight born of delirium.
He recollected a picture which he had once seen--the picture of a drowning woman.