I've a responsibility towards Celia.

She's my wife.

And though she's been foolish and treated life rather as though it were a game of battledore and shuttlecock, she's never done anything to unfit herself to be my wife.
Even if she had--well, I still shouldn't consider I was absolved from my responsibility towards her.

Marriage is 'for better, for worse,' and I can't be coward enough to shirk if it turns out 'for worse.' If I did, anything might happen--anything! Celia's a woman of no will-power--driven like a bit of fluff by every breeze that blows.

So you see, beloved, I must be waiting to help her when she comes back." Nan lifted her eyes to his face.
"I see that you're just the best and bravest man I know--_preux chevalier_, as I once called you.