His head was heavy and his eyes weak, and he could not bring himself to think of the papers which lay before him.
Then at last he went home, and had another sad and solitary walk across the Parks, during which he vainly tried to rally himself again, and collect his energies for the work which he had to do.
It was in such emergencies as this that he knew that it most behoved a man to fall back upon what manliness there might be within him; now was the time for him to be true to himself; he had often felt proud of his own energy of purpose; and now was the opportunity for him to use such energy, if his pride in this respect had not been all in vain.
Such were the lessons with which he endeavoured to strengthen himself, but it was in vain; he could not feel courageous--he could not feel hopeful--he could not do other than despair.

When he got home, he again prostrated himself, again declared himself ill, again buried his face in his hands, and answered the affection of his wife by saying that a man could not always be cheerful, could not always laugh.

Gertrude, though she was very far indeed from guessing the truth, felt that something extraordinary was the matter, and knew that her husband's uneasiness was connected with the Scotts.
He came down to dinner, and though he ate but little, he drank glass after glass of sherry.

He thus gave himself courage to go out in the evening and face the world at his club.

He found Undy there as he expected, but he had no conversation with him, though they did not absolutely cut each other.