Meantime Raymond preserved his cheerful spirit for a season.  But existence never looked the same out of Sabina’s presence and before he had reached Bridport, his mood changed.  He recognised very acutely his duty and not a thought stirred in him to escape it; but what for a little while had appeared more than duty and promised to end mean doubts and fears for ever, began now to present itself under other aspects.  The joy of a child and a wife and a home faded.  For what sort of a home could he establish?  He leaned to the hope that Daniel might prove generous under the circumstances and believed that his aunt might throw her weight on his side and urge his brother to make adequate provision; but these reflections galled him unspeakably, for they were sordid.  They argued weakness in him.  He must come as a beggar and eat humble pie; he must for ever sacrifice his independence and, with it, everything that had made life worth living.  The more he thought upon it, the more he began to hate the necessity of taking this story to his relations.  Better men than he had lived in poverty and risen from humble beginnings.  It struck him that if he went his own way, redoubled his official energies and asked for nothing more on the strength of his marriage, his own self-respect would be preserved as well as the respect of his aunt and brother.  He pictured himself as a hero, yet knew that what he contemplated was merely the conduct of an honest man.

The thought of approaching anybody with his intentions grew more distasteful, and by the time he reached Bridport, he had determined not to mention the matter, at any rate until the following day.  So great a thing demanded more consideration than he could give it for the moment, because his whole future depended on the manner in which he broke it to his people.  It was true that the circumstances admitted of no serious delay; Sabina must, of course, be considered before everything; but twenty-four hours would make no difference to her, while it might make all the difference to him.

He reduced the courses of action to two.  Either he would announce that he was going to be married immediately as a fact accomplished; or he would invite his aunt’s sympathies, use diplomacy and win her to his side with a view to approaching Daniel.  Daniel appeared the danger, because it was quite certain that he would strongly disapprove of Raymond’s marriage.  This certainty induced another element of doubt.  For suppose, far from seeking to help Raymond with his new responsibilities, Daniel took the opposite course and threatened to punish him for any such stupidity?  Suppose that his brother, from a personal standpoint, objected and backed his objection with a definite assurance that Raymond must leave the mill if he took this step?  The only way out of that would be to tell Daniel that he was compromised and must wed Sabina for honour.  But Raymond felt that he would rather die than make any such confession.  His whole soul rose with loathing at the thought of telling the truth to one so frozen and unsympathetic.  Moreover there was not only himself to be considered, but Sabina.  What chance would she have of ever winning Daniel to acknowledge and respect her if the facts came to his ears?