But it could be done only at her expense, and it seemed to him that to tell this noble girl, who was waiting for him, that he did not need her, would be to spill for ever the happiness with which she overflowed, and sap the pride that had been the marrow of her during her twenty years of life.

Not thus would Grizel have argued in his place; but he could not change his nature, and it was Sentimental Tommy, in an agony of remorse for having brought dear Grizel to this pass, who had to decide her future and his in the time you may take to walk up a garden path.
Either her mistake must be righted now or kept hidden from her for ever.

He was a sentimentalist, but in that hard moment he was trying to be a man.

He took her in his arms and kissed her reverently, knowing that after this there could be no drawing back.

In that act he gave himself loyally to her as a husband.