Oh dear no! But he had no training in the usual conventions, and we must remember that he had no experience whatever of women.

He could only have an ideal conception of his position.

An ideal is often but a flaming vision of reality.
To him enters Fyne, wound up, if I may express myself so irreverently, wound up to a high pitch by his wife's interpretation of the girl's letter.

He enters with his talk of meanness and cruelty, like a bucket of water on the flame.

Clearly a shock.