It was a silence most grateful to Tracy's feelings.

He wouldn't have broken it for anything; for he was ashamed of himself all the way through to his spine.

He kept saying to himself: "How unanswerable it all is--how absolutely unanswerable! It is basely, degradingly selfish to keep those unearned honors, and--and--oh, hang it, nobody but a cur--" "What an idiotic damned speech that Tompkins made!" This outburst was from Barrow.

It flooded Tracy's demoralized soul with waters of refreshment.

These were the darlingest words the poor vacillating young apostate had ever heard--for they whitewashed his shame for him, and that is a good service to have when you can't get the best of all verdicts, self-acquittal.
"Come up to my room and smoke a pipe, Tracy." Tracy had been expecting this invitation, and had had his declination all ready: but he was glad enough to accept, now.