But Corliss did go back to see her, and before the day was out.

A little bitter self-communion had not taken long to show him his childishness.

The sting of loss was hard enough, but the thought, now they could be nothing to each other, that her last impressions of him should be bad, hurt almost as much, and in a way, even more.

And further, putting all to the side, he was really ashamed.

He had thought that he could have taken such a disappointment more manfully, especially since in advance he had not been at all sure of his footing.
So he called upon her, walked with her up to the Barracks, and on the way, with her help, managed to soften the awkwardness which the morning had left between them.