Then he paced up and down the room, and suddenly thought of Howel and Netta.

He knew not how the transition took place, but he immediately accused himself of having been hard to them.

Does any one ever fully sympathise with another, until he has felt as he does?
No, we should not judge our weak fellow mortals so harshly, if we knew all their temptations and trials.
Then, again, Miss Gwynne returned to him, with her pride and coldness.
How could he love such a woman?
he, whose beau ideal of feminine perfection was a creature of gentleness, love, and pity?
but he would think of her no more.

She, at least, should discover that he was as proud as herself.
Yes, he was proud, he knew it, and now, he would glory in his pride instead of trample it down, as he had been of late trying to do, as an arch tempter; he should be justified in showing pride for her pride.
Again a gentler and better mood came.

Was he not vain, ambitious, ridiculous in her eyes, for venturing to speak to her as he had done?
Doubtless he had been wrong, but she needed not to spurn him as she had done; she might have told him so as a friend.