When he plotted with himself to engage Cecily's interest, he said that it was the course any lover would have pursued.

And in the end he really persuaded himself that he was in love with her.
Yet none the less he thought of Madeline with affection.

He was piqued that she made no effort to bring him back to her feet.

To be sure, her mother's behaviour probably implied Madeline's desire of reconciliation, but he wished her to make personal overtures; he would have liked to see her approach him with humble eyes, not troubling himself to debate how he should act in that event.

With Mrs.Denyer he was once more on terms of apparent friendliness, though he held no private dialogue with her; he was willing that she should suppose him gradually coming over to her views.