That would have been to act with dignity; that would have been the very best form of gratitude for the kindness he had received.

But no, his accursed lack of self-possession had ruined all.

'The woman was now offended in good earnest; he saw it in her face at parting.

The fault was admittedly on his side, but what right had she to talk about 'something advantageous'?
She would write to him, to be sure; that meant, she could not yet make up her mind whether to grant the money or not.

Pluto take the money! Long before sitting down to her glossy note-paper she should have received a letter from _him_.
Composed already.