You told a lie; nothing can palliate or do away with that! No _motives_ can make a lie anything but a lie, and a lie is always a cowardly thing, whether we try to shield ourselves with it or others.
"But the kindness which prompted it, the courage that bore the punishment so bravely, the silence that has made a false heroism out of it--these are fine qualities, Haggart, and I hope you will carry them with you through life.".