She was apparently doomed to be his wife till the end of the chapter.
Winterborne quite forgot his superficial differences with the poor girl under the warm rush of deep and distracting love for her which the almost tragical information engendered.
To renounce her forever--that was then the end of it for him, after all.

There was no longer any question about suitability, or room for tiffs on petty tastes.

The curtain had fallen again between them.

She could not be his.

The cruelty of their late revived hope was now terrible.