But of the very truth of his deep love--so he told himself--she had been happily ignorant.

Let her be ignorant.

Why should he make his mother unhappy?
As these thoughts passed through his mind, I think that he revelled in his wretchedness, and made much to himself of his misery.

He sucked in his sorrow greedily, and was somewhat proud to have had occasion to break his heart.

But not the less, because he was thus early blighted, would he struggle for success in the world.