He had shot his bolt, and got--consideration, almost imperturbability.

They appeared to treat the matter as though he were a wild youth who would not yet mend his ways.

He read over their infrequent letters to him; his to them had been still more infrequent.

In one there was the statement that "she was progressing favourably with her English"; in another, that "she was riding a good deal"; again, that "she appeared anxious to adapt herself to her new life." At all these he whistled a little to himself, and smiled bitterly.

Then, all at once, he got up and straightway burned them all.