He had told Lomaque, and he had firmly believed himself, that he had conquered all ambitions for his sister's sake.

He knew now, for the first time, that he had only lulled them to rest--he knew that the letter from Paris had aroused them.

His answer was written, his hand was on the post-bag, and at that moment the whole struggle had to be risked over again--risked when he was most unfit for it! He was not a man under any ordinary circumstances to procrastinate, but he procrastinated now.
"Night brings counsel; I will wait till to-morrow," he said to himself, and put the letter of refusal in his pocket, and hastily quitted the laboratory..