The consciousness of exile, instead of being blunted by time, weighed ever more heavily upon him.

He never realized till now what an absolute necessity it was to his nature to lean upon a kindred spirit, for he had never before been without one.

Since the death of his father he had first had Paul, and then Dr.Schrotter, whom he had seen daily, and thus had always had some one to share his mental life.

Now he was separated from Schrotter by distance, and from Paul by the great change in their views, and found no sufficient support when left to himself.
If at times the sight of Paul's perfect self-content and happiness roused in him the wish to follow his example, it was quickly overruled by the conviction that neither Paul's commonplace, practical occupations, nor his worldly success, would afford him, Wilhelm, the smallest satisfaction.
He passed his days and weeks in self-communings and spiritual loneliness, in spite of Paul's and Malvine's endeavors to interest him in men and things.

He allowed himself to be drawn into Malvine's afternoon receptions, and the two or three parties they gave during the winter; but refused to accompany them to other people's balls and dinners.