The savage element in humanity--let the modern optimists who doubt its existence look at any uncultivated man (no matter how muscular), woman (no matter how beautiful), or child (no matter how young)--began to show itself furtively in his eyes, to utter itself furtively in his voice.

Was he to blame for the manner in which he looked at her and spoke to her?
Not he! What had there been in the training of _his_ life (at school or at college) to soften and subdue the savage element in him?
About as much as there had been in the training of his ancestors (without the school or the college) five hundred years since.
It was plain that one of them must give way.

The woman had the most at stake--and the woman set the example of submission.
"Don't be hard on me," she pleaded.

"I don't mean to be hard on _you._ My temper gets the better of me.

You know my temper.