He had said very hard words.

It was true that he could not have expressed his meaning without hard words, nor have repressed his meaning without self-reproach.

But in his present mood he could not comfort himself by justifying himself.

She had told him that he ought to have remembered that Felix was her son; and as she spoke she had acted well the part of an outraged mother.

His heart was so soft that though he knew the woman to be false and the son to be worthless, he utterly condemned himself.