I had not as yet made up my mind to make an offer to Miss Crawley, but I shall now do so to-morrow morning." This was very bad indeed, and the archdeacon was extremely unhappy.
He was by no means at heart a cruel man.

He loved his children dearly.

If this disagreeable marriage were to take place, he would doubtless do exactly as his wife had predicted.

He would not stop his son's income for a single quarter; and, though he went on telling himself that he would stop it, he knew in his own heart that any such severity was beyond his power.

He was a generous man in money matters,--having a dislike for poverty which was not generous,--and for his own sake could not have endured to see a son of his in want.
But he was terribly anxious to exercise the power which the use of the threat might give him.