The passion in which reason plays no part was past and over long ago, and during the last few weeks he had reflected upon the situation with ever-increasing clearness and deliberation.

At first he had not been quite sure of his feelings, but earnest self-examination by degrees made everything plain to him.

What he was most distinctly conscious of was a sense of profound disgust at his present manner of life.

Things could not remain as they were.

Sooner or later it must inevitably come to the knowledge of his friends.