They would explain by the first easy discreditable reason.

What eared he for their opinion when he knew the far greater shame in his heart?
For as he strode up the woodland path to Etterick the wrappings of surface passion fell off from his view of the past hour, and he saw the bald and naked ribs of his own incapacity.

It was a trivial incident to the world, but to himself a momentous self-revelation.

He was a dreamer, a weakling, a fool.

He had hesitated in a crisis, and another had taken his place.