No, he was hard.

He wanted something else.

She pleaded to him with all her love not to make it her choice.
She could not cope with it, with him, she knew not with what.

But it strained her till she felt she would break.
"Do you want it ?" she asked, very gravely.
"Not much," he replied, with pain.
She turned her face aside; then, raising herself with dignity, she took his head to her bosom, and rocked him softly.

She was not to have him, then! So she could comfort him.