Attheendoftheweekhesatdownandconsideredhiscasequitecalmly。Forthreeyearshehadlovedthisgirl，deeplyandtenderly。Hehadbeenlover，brother，friend，andguardian。
Duringthattime，eventhoughshehadacceptedhimineverycapacityexceptasthatoftheprospectivehusband，shehadnevergivenhimanyrealaffection，norsympathy，norhelp;allshehaddoneforhimhadbeendonewithoutherknowledgeorintent。Toknowher，toloveher，andtoschemetogiveherpleasurehadbeenitsownreward，andtheonlyone。Forthelastfewmonthshehadbeenlivinglikeacrossing-sweeperinordertobeabletostayinLondonuntilshecamebacktoit，andthathemightstillsendherthegiftshehadalwayslaidonheraltar。Hehadnotseenherinthreemonths。Threemonthsthathadbeentohimablank，exceptforhiswork——whichlikeallelsethathedid，wasinspiredandcarriedonforher。Nowatlastshehadreturnedandhadshownthat，evenasafriend，hewasofsolittleaccountinherthoughts，ofsolittleconsequenceinherlife，thatafterthislongabsenceshehadnodesiretolearnofhiswelfareortoseehim——shedidnotevengivehimthechancetoseeher。Andso，placingthesefactsbeforehimforthefirsttimesincehehadlovedher，heconsideredwhatwasduetohimself。\"Wasitgoodenough？\"heasked。\"Wasitjustthatheshouldcontinuetowearouthissoulandbodyforthisgirlwhodidnotwantwhathehadtogive，whotreatedhimlessconsideratelythanamanwhomshemetforthefirsttimeatdinner？Hefelthehadreachedthebreaking-point;thatthetimehadcomewhenhemustconsiderwhatheowedtohimself。TherecouldneverbeanyotherwomansaveHelen，butasitwasnottobeHelen，hecouldnolonger，withself-respect，continuetoprofferhisloveonlytoseeitslightedandneglected。Hewashumbleenoughconcerninghimself，butofhislovehewasveryproud。Othermencouldgivehermoreinwealthorposition，butnoonecouldeverloveherashedid。
\"Hethathathmorelethimgive，\"hehadoftenquotedtoherdefiantly，asthoughhewerechallengingtheworld，andnowhefelthemustevolveamake-shiftworldofhisown——aworldinwhichshewasnothisonlyspringofacts;hemustbeginalloveragainandkeephislovesecretandsacreduntilsheunderstooditandwantedit。Andifsheshouldneverwantithewouldatleasthavesaveditfrommanyrebuffsandinsults。
Withthisdeterminationstronginhim，thenoteHelenhadleftforhimafterhertalkwithMarion，andtheflowers，andthenotewiththem，sayingshewascomingtotaketeaonthemorrow，failedtomovehimexcepttomakehimmorebitter。Hesawinthemonlyatardyrecognitionofherneglect——anefforttomakeuptohimforthoughtlessnesswhich，fromher，hurthimworsethanstudiedslight。
Anewregimehadbegun，andhewasdeterminedtoestablishitfirmlyandtomakeitimpossibleforhimselftoretreatfromit;