He saw it clearly and believed he was a strong man.

He had always prided himself upon his unflinching firmness.

And yet he was afraid.

She had been all in all to him.

What if he should let the memory of his love for her weaken the sense of his dignity?
She was a remarkable woman; he could see that; all the latent greatness of his nature--in which he honestly believed--had been transfused into that slight, girlish figure.