For the storm, as it massed heavier and nearer, filling the earth with its desolation, bridged vast spaces for him, and he found himself suddenly face to face with the might-have-beens of yesterday.
He saw, as he had never guessed before, the immeasurable gulf between helplessness and the wild, brute freedom of man, and his soul cried out--not for adventure, not for the savage strength of life--but for the presence of a creature frailer than himself, yet in the gentle touch of whose hand lay the might of all humanity.
He struggled with himself.

He remembered that Dr.Cardigan had told him there would be moments of deep depression, and he tried to fight himself out of the grip of this that was on him.

There was a bell at hand, but he refused to use it, for he sensed his own cowardice.

His cigar had gone out, and he relighted it.

He made an effort to bring his mind back to O'Connor, and the mystery girl, and Kedsty.