But going out under the gate he paused for a moment and shook himself.

He must at any rate summon his own powers to his aid at the moment and resolve what he would do.

However bad all this might be, there was a better course and a worse.

If he allowed this confusion to master him he would probably be betrayed into the worse course.

Now, at this moment, in what way would it become him to act?
He drew himself together, shaking his head and shoulders,--so as to shake off his weakness,--pressing his foot for a moment on the earth so as to convince himself of his own firmness, and then he resolved.
He was on the way out to see his mother-in-law, but he thought that nothing now could be gained by going to Chesterton.