His most trusty retainers stammered, blushed, and faltered before him.

Self-accusations, confessions of minor faults and delinquencies, or extravagant excuses and apologies met his mildest inquiries.

The very children that he loved--his pet pupil, Paquita--seemed to be conscious of some hidden sin.

The result of this constant irritation showed itself more plainly.
For the first half-year the Commander's voice and eye were at variance.
He was still kind, tender, and thoughtful in speech.

Gradually, however, his voice took upon itself the hardness of his glance and its skeptical, impassive quality, and as the year again neared its close it was plain that the Commander had fitted himself to the eye, and not the eye to the Commander.
It may be surmised that these changes did not escape the watchful solicitude of the Fathers.