Wilhelm could no longer deny that his first love, which had stirred his being to the depths, was a mistake, but he could not bring himself to definitely end the existing conditions.

Hundreds of times he was on the point of saying to Loulou that he did not think the tie between them would secure their happiness, and offering her her freedom, but as soon as he began his courage would fail him.

If people were present he was confused; if they were alone, her personal appearance had the same charm for him, or rather it awoke in him the remembrance of the delight and enthusiasm he had felt in the past, and prevented him taking a step toward what would do grievous injury to her girlish vanity, if nothing more.
Would this suspense and these fears, which made him so restless and unhappy, always last?
He might write a letter to Loulou, as he was unable to say what he wished to in the light of her beautiful brown eyes.

Then he threw this idea aside as unworthy of consideration; he could not simply dismiss a girl whom he loved by means of the post.

The simple thing to do seemed to wait, until, on the other side, they should grow disgusted with him, and would tell him to go.