It is not an agreeable thing for a delicate man like Bernard Longueville to have to accommodate himself to such an accident, but this is nevertheless what it seemed needful that he should do.

If she bore him a grudge he must think it natural; if she had vowed him a hatred he must allow her the comfort of it.

He had done the only thing possible, but that made it no better for her.

He had wronged her.
The circumstances mattered nothing, and as he could not make it up to her, the only reasonable thing was to keep out of her way.

He had stepped into her path now, and the proper thing was to step out of it.
If it could give her no pleasure to see him again, it could certainly do him no good to see her.