or did he note the mists that rose like steam from
the ground, intensifying the acrid smell of garlic, with which the
woods abounded. Screened by the thicket, he sat on his accustomed scat,
and gave himself up to being miserable.

For some time he was conscious only of how deeply he had been
wounded--just as one suffers from the bruise after the blow. At the
moment, he had been stunned into a kind of quiescence; now his nerves
throbbed and tingled. But, little by little, a vivid recollection of
what had actually occurred returned to sting him: and certain details
stood out fixed and unforgettable. Yet, in reliving the hours just
past, he felt no regret at the fact that they had quarrelled. What
first smote him was an unspeakable amazement at Louise. The knowledge
that, for weeks on end, she had been contemplating marriage, was beyond
his belief. Hardly recovered from the throes of a suffering believed
incurable, and while he was still going about her with gloved hands, as
it were, she was ready to throw herself into the arms of the first
likely man she met. He could not help himself: in this connection,
every little trait in her that was uncongenial to him, started up with
appalling distinctness. Hitherto, he had put it down to his own
sensitiveness; he was over-nice. But for the most part, he had forgiven
her on account of all she had come through; for he believed that this
grief had swept destructively through her nature, leaving a jagged
wound, which only time could heal. Now, as if to prove to him what a
fool he was, she showed him that he had been mistaken in this also; she
could recover her equilibrium, while he still hedged her round with
solicitude--recover herself, and transfer her affection to another
person. Good God! Was it so easy, a matter of so little moment, to grow
fond of one who was almost a stranger to her?--for, in spite of what
she said to the contrary, he was persuaded that she had a stronger
feeling for this man than she had been willing to admit: this riper
man, with his experienced way of treating women. Was, then, his own
idea of her wholly false? Was there, after all, something in her nature
that he could not, would not, understand? He denied it fiercely, almost
before he had formulated the question: no matter what her actions were,
or what words she said, deep down in her was an intense will for good,
a spring of noble impulse. It was only that she had never had a proper
chance. But he denie