Another feeling, even stronger, impelled him as quickly as possible to smooth over the rupture without letting it grow greater.
To remain under such undeserved reproach was wretched, but to make her suffer by justifying himself was worse still.
Like a man half-awake in an agony of pain, he wanted to tear out, to fling away the aching place, and coming to his senses, he felt that the aching place was himself.
He could do nothing but try to help the aching place to bear it, and this he tried to do.