He was right! But the words were ill-judged and rash.

I had followed him ready to do anything to show my contrition, ready to make any atonement in my power for the wrong I had done him.

One gentle word from him, one encouraging look, would have made the task easy.

But this angry taunt, deserved as it was--nay, just because it was so fully deserved--stirred up in me a sudden sense of disappointment and resentment which choked all other feelings.
This was my reward for the effort I had made! This was the friend I had striven so desperately to recover! He gave me no time to retort, even if I could have found the words to do so, but turned on his heel and left me, humbled and smarting, to find out that it would have been better far for me had I never tried to make matters right with Jack Smith.
But I was too angry to be dispirited that night.

His bitter words rang in my ears at every step I took, and though my conscience cried out they were just, my pride cried out louder they were cruel.