He goes to some lengths to set that first meeting up, in a way that might occasion least pain to both sides. He turns down the offer of breakfasting at the Cottage - publicly on the grounds of the child's illness and not wishing to inconvenience Mary, but saves Anne from having to sit down at a table with him for any length of time when they first meet again.

He then insists on Charles going ahead to warn the Cottage that he is coming, in spite of Charles saying it is not necessary, giving Anne a chance to ready herself for the meeting. He is in and out pretty quickly, says nothing difficult, is polite. He may even have been waiting for her to give a clue as to how they were to behave but she, as we know, is so overwhelmed she cannot do more than curtsey.

All in all, given that they were going to meet at some point, I think he shows a fair degree of tact and kindness that morning.