Thereupon Morris offered to demonstrate the truth of what he had said.

The controversy proved sharp; but of this he was glad; it was a solace to him, perhaps even it prevented him from plunging headlong into madness.

At first he was stunned; he did not feel very much.

Then the first effects of the blow passed; a sense of the swiftness and inevitableness of this awful consummation seemed to sink down into his heart and crush him.

The completeness of the tragedy, its Greek-play qualities, were overwhelming.