Weakness in him had reached a criminal degree.

Once or twice he had all but made up his mind to flee secretly, and only let her know his determination when he had gone; but his poverty interposed such obstacles that he ended by accepting them as excuses for his hesitation.

The mere thought of fulfilling the duty which he owed to himself, of speaking out with manly firmness, and telling her that here at length all ended between them--that was a terror to his soul.

So he stayed on and allowed her to kill him by slow torment.

He was at least carrying out to the letter the promise he had made to her father, and this thought supplied him with a flattering unction which, such was his disposition, at times even brought him a moment's solace.
There was no fire in the room; he sank upon a chair and waited.