The hard labor he would be doomed to perform would be a relief.

His conscience might smite him less sharply and less ceaselessly if he was suffering the due punishment for his sin, in the society of his fellow-criminals.

Dartmoor Prison would be better for him than his miserable and degrading freedom.
Still, as long as he could elude publicity and preserve his name from notoriety, the burden would not fall upon Felicita and his children.

His mother would not shrink from bearing her share of any burden of his.

But he must keep out of the dock, lest their father and husband should be branded as a convict.
A dreary round his thoughts ran.