He had told no falsehood; he simply had been silent.

Were his father to wish him to marry this young girl, no doubt he would refuse to do so.

But as yet he had not dared to rebel.

As he had not said anything to her of the matter, perhaps it was because he had just made up his mind as to what it was best for him to do.

Before this sudden vanishing away of her air-castles, pale and weak from the rude touch of the actual life, she still kept her faith, and trusted, in spite of all, in the future realisation of her dream.
Eventually the fair promises for the future would come to pass, even although now her pride was crushed and she sank down into a state of humiliation and resignation.
"Mother, it is true I have done wrong, but I will never sin again.