He tried to be gentle and considerate, but he was too much of a utilitarian and practical-minded observer not to realize that he was likely to have a sickly wife on his hands later.

Sympathy and affection were great things, but desire and charm must endure or one was compelled to be sadly conscious of their loss.

So often now he saw young girls who were quite in his mood, and who were exceedingly robust and joyous.

It was fine, advisable, practical, to adhere to the virtues as laid down in the current social lexicon, but if you had a sickly wife--And anyhow, was a man entitled to only one wife?
Must he never look at another woman?
Supposing he found some one?
He pondered those things between hours of labor, and concluded that it did not make so much difference.
If a man could, and not be exposed, it was all right.

He had to be careful, though.