Something ought to have happened.

It did not.

If she had had that touch of abandon shown when she sang "The Waking of the Fire," Gaston might, even at this moment, have broken his promise to his uncle; but, somehow, he knew himself slipping away from her.

With the tenderness he felt, he still knew that he was acting; imitating, reproducing other, better, moments with her.

He felt the disrespect to her, but it could not be helped--it could not be helped.
He said that he would call and say good-bye to her and Mrs.Gasgoyne at four o'clock.