He would, indeed, have left the crowd, and spent the day in the forest, or on the hills, but he could not leave Aurora.

He must be near her; he must see her, though he was miserable.

Now he feared that the last moment would come, and that he should not exchange a word with her.
He could not, with any show of pretext, prolong his stay beyond the sunset; all were already gone, with the exceptions mentioned.

It would be against etiquette to remain longer, unless specially invited, and he was not specially invited.

Yet he lingered, and lingered.