And yet he had written as he did with the kindest possible motives.
Thorpe had the misfortune to be one of those individuals who, though careless of what people in general may think of them, are in a corresponding degree sensitive to the opinion of the few they love.

This feeling was further exaggerated by a constitutional shrinking from any outward manifestation of the emotions.

As a natural result, he was often thought indifferent or discouraging when in reality his natural affections were at their liveliest.

A failure to procure for a friend certain favors or pleasures dejected him, not only because of that friend's disappointment, but because, also, he imagined the failure earned him a certain blame.

Blame from his heart's intimates he shrank from.