For the man to suffer now, twenty-three years after, was unreasonable, but inevitable.
For a woman, who had no part or lot in that young past, to suffer now, twenty-three years afterwards, was foolish and useless.
If the man permitted it, he was a coward and a fool.
This, at least, was what William West told himself.
IV
The conclusion to which the Rev. Mr. West came was that, if his love for Amy was deep enough and unselfish enough, he would hold his tongue. He believed that confession, apart from reparation, was the refuge of the weak mind.
Having thus decided to bear alone the burden of his secret, he went, early in the morning, and told the woman he loved.
Of course, there is no explanation of this vacillation and indifference to his own judgment, except the mere statement that he was in love.
“Amy is trying on her dress,” Mrs. Paul said, when he was ushered into the library, “so, if you want to see her, you can go home at once. But perhaps you may condescend to talk to me a little while?”