Most happily, he was able to make provision for her and the children, and had strength to break his bonds.

If he had left them to starve, I should have _understood_ it, but couldn't have approved it.

There are men who might follow his example, but prefer to put up with a life of torture.

Well, they _do_ prefer it, you see.

I may think that they are foolishly weak, but I can only recognize that they make a choice between two forms of suffering.
They have tender consciences; the thought of desertion is too painful to them.