I had no wish for company.

I even denied myself to Clifton.

The sight of a human face was more than I could bear unless it were the one face; and that I could not hope for.

But the desire to see her, to hear from her--if only to learn how she had endured the bitter ordeal of the day before--soon became unbearable.

I must know this much at any cost to her feelings or to mine.
After many a struggle with myself, I called up Dr.Carpenter on the telephone.