But what human significance had they?
Not a name rose in his mind which symbolised helpfulness.

True, that might be to some extent his own fault; the people of whom he saw most were such as needed, not such as could offer, aid.

He thought of Ralph Pomfret.
There, certainly, a kindly will would not be lacking, but how could he worry with his foolish affairs a man on whom he had no shadow of claim?
No: he stood alone.

It was a lesson in social science such as reading could never have afforded him.

His insight into the order of a man's world had all at once been marvellously quickened, the scope of his reflections incredibly extended.