It would hurt you; that was my ignoble instinct.

God knows whether it was also a hideous sort of excuse for my weakness--for I was blazing hot after the last dance--and the gaiety and uproar and laughter all overexcited me--and then what I had seen you do, and your not coming to me, and that ominous uneasy impulse stirring! "That is the truth as I analyse it.

The dreadful thing is that I could have been capable of dealing our chance of happiness such a cowardly blow.
"Well, it is over.

The thing has fled for a while.

I fought it down, stamped on it with utter horror and loathing.