Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollope

Phineas, as he journeyed down to Saulsby, knew that he had in truth made up his mind. He was going thither nominally that he might listen to the advice of almost his oldest political friend before he resolved on a matter of vital importance to himself; but in truth he was making the visit because he felt that he could not excuse himself from it without unkindness and ingratitude. She had implored him to come, and he was bound to go, and there were tidings to be told which he must tell. It was not only that he might give her his reasons for not becoming an Undersecretary of State that he went to Saulsby. He felt himself bound to inform her that he intended to ask Marie Goesler to be his wife. He might omit to do so till he had asked the question -- and then say nothing of what he had done should his petition be refused; but it seemed to him that there would be cowardice in this.

He was bound to treat Lady Laura as his friend in a special degree, as something more than his sister -- and he was bound above all things to make her understand in some plainest manner that she could be nothing more to him than such a friend. In his dealings with her he had endeavoured always to be honest -- gentle as well as honest; but now it was specially his duty to be honest to her. When he was young he had loved her, and had told her so -- and she had refused him. As a friend he had been true to her ever since, but that offer could never be repeated. And the other offer -- to the woman whom she was now accustomed to abuse -- must be made. Should Lady Laura choose to quarrel with him it must be so; but the quarrel should not be of his seeking.