He was aware--at least, he told himself that he was aware--that extraordinary efforts must be made in love affairs.

I don't know how he reconciled that startling theory with his other tenets, but he did.

The chance suggestions of his momentary moods he regarded as convictions, and adopted them one day and disowned them the next with much _naif_ dignity, and offended astonishment, if the Bishop or some other old friend actually hinted at a discrepancy between diametrically opposed but earnestly expounded views.

He imagined that he was now grappling with the difficulties inherent to love in their severest form.

It was of estrangements like these that poets sang.