If the girl should reconcile Dick to his weakness, should pluck the sting from his temptation?

One must have the wit 'from such a sharp and waspish word as No to pluck the sting.'

He had endeavoured not to be harsh to her, and had striven to pluck the sting from his rebuke.

As for that wit which should pluck the sting "from such a sharp and waspish word as 'no,'" I fear she had it not.