She had merely exaggerated the importance of her visit.
Even after he had turned many things over in his mind to bolster up this conclusion, he was still not at ease.

Against his will he recalled certain unpleasant things which had happened within his knowledge under sudden and unexpected stress of emotion.

He tried to laugh the absurd stuff out of his thoughts and to the end that he might add a new color to his visionings he exchanged his half-burned cigar for a black-bowled pipe, which he filled and lighted.

Then he began walking back and forth in his cabin, like a big animal in a small cage, until at last he stood with his head half out of the open port, looking at the clear stars and setting the perfume of his tobacco adrift with the soft sea wind.
He felt himself growing comforted.

Reason seated itself within him again, with sentiment shuttled under his feet.