To say this out, and before Isabel, costs me more courage than to thrash him.
Through fear of him I have been a villain.

Worse wrong than I did to my wife--worse in its consequences--I could not do: you know it, all of you; and I must go now and tell it to her father.

I did it unknowingly, by this man's contrivance; but not in any fear of him.
What I did in fear, and knowingly, was worse in another way--worse in intention.

I tell you that but for an accident I might--I might have--" He stammered and came to a halt.

"No, I cannot tell it yet," he muttered half defiantly, with a shy look at the Rector.
"But this I can tell"-- and his voice rose--"that no fear of _him_ stays me.