He was kind-hearted and generous, capable of feeling sincere sympathy for others, and under certain circumstances of being deeply wounded himself.

He had indeed a far more refined nature than he himself suspected and on this memorable day he had experienced more emotions than he remembered to have felt in the course of many years.
After long debate and after much searching inquiry into his own motives he had determined to offer himself to Mrs.Goddard, and he had accordingly done so in his own straightforward manner.

It had seemed a very important action in his life, a very solemn step, but he was not prepared for the acute sense of disappointment which he felt when Mrs.
Goddard first said it was impossible for her to accept him, still less had he anticipated the extraordinary story which she had told him, in explanation of her refusal.

His ideas were completely upset.

That Mrs.
Goddard was not a widow after all, was almost as astounding as that she should prove to be the wife of a felon.