He was less a coxcomb than shamefaced and sentimental; and one may have these qualities, and be a coxcomb to boot, and yet be a gallant fellow.

One may also be a gallant fellow, and harsh, exacting, double-dealing, and I know not what besides, in youth.

The question asked by nature is, "Has he the heart to take and keep an impression ?" For, if he has, circumstances will force him on and carve the figure of a brave man out of that mass of contradictions.

In return for such benefits, he pays forfeit commonly of the dearest of the things prized by him in this terrestrial life.

Whereat, albeit created man by her, he reproaches nature, and the sculptor, circumstance; forgetting that to make him man is their sole duty, and that what betrayed him was the difficulty thrown in their way by his quondam self--the pleasant boonfellow! He forgets, in fact, that he was formerly led by his nose, and sacrificed his deeper feeling to a low disgust.
When the youth is called upon to look up, he can adore devoutly and ardently; but when it is his chance to look down on a fair head, he is, if not worse, a sentimental despot.
Wilfrid was young, and under the dominion of his senses; which can be, if the sentimentalists will believe me, as tyrannous and misleading when super-refined as when ultra-bestial.