As he looked at her a strong temptation shook the man.

He might still discover some excuse for remaining to watch over Sylvia, and seize each opportunity for gaining her esteem.

Then he remembered that this would entail the sacrifice of her property; and a faint distrust of her, which he had hitherto refused to admit, seized him.

Sylvia, threatened by poverty, might yield without affection to the opportunities of a suitor who would bid high enough for her hand; and he would not have such a course forced upon her, even if he were the one to profit.
"You're very quiet; you must feel going away," she said.
"Yes," George admitted; "I feel it a good deal." "Ah! I don't know anybody else who would have gone--I feel selfish and shabby in letting you." "I don't think you could stop me." "I haven't tried.

I suppose I'm a coward, but until you promised to look after matters, I was afraid of the future.