But they were marked in their attentions to each other, emulous of affectionate words and actions, yielding and considerate.
And yet this mutual, almost formal, recognition of a recent state of painful antagonism left on each mind a feeling of embarrassment, checked words and sentences ere they came to utterance, and threw amid their pleasant talks many intermittent pauses.
Often through the day had Mr.Emerson, as he dwelt on the unhappy relation existing between himself and his wife, made up his mind to renew the subject of their true position to each other, as briefly touched upon in their meeting of the night before, and as often changed his purpose, in fear of another rupture.

Yet to him it seemed of the first importance that this matter, as a basis of future peace, should be settled between them, and settled at once.
If he held one view and she another, and both were sensitive, quick-tempered and tenacious of individual freedom, fierce antagonism might occur at any moment.

He had come home inclined to the affirmative side of the question, and many times during the evening it was on his lips to introduce the subject.

But he was so sure that it would prove a theme of sharp discussion, that he had not the courage to risk the consequences.
There was peace again after this conflict, but it was not, by any means, a hopeful peace.

It had no well-considered basis.