Had they differed from selfishness, agreement might have been easier, but an estrangement that sprang from principle was hard to overcome.

She wanted to help her husband and keep him to herself; he meant to save her hardship and carry out a task that was properly his.

But perhaps their motives were not so fine as they looked.
Suppose there was shabby jealousy on her side, and false pride on his?
Well, Stephen was tired and could not see things in the proper light, and it was some relief when he got up and went out.

Helen picked up a book, in the hope of banishing her uneasy thoughts.
Next morning Festing came in for breakfast, feeling gloomy and preoccupied.

He had not slept much and got up early to examine the damaged grain.