He perceived, as he had never perceived before, the shadowing of something enormous and indomitable--and lawless; not to be daunted by the will of nature's very self; laughing at the lightning and at wounds and mutilation; conquering, irresistible--and blindly noble.

For the first time in his life Bibbs began to understand the meaning of being truly this man's son.
He would be the more truly his son henceforth, though, as Sheridan said, Bibbs had not come down-town with him meanly or half-heartedly.

He had given his word because he had wanted the money, simply, for Mary Vertrees in her need.

And he shivered with horror of himself, thinking how he had gone to her to offer it, asking her to marry him--with his head on his breast in shameful fear that she would accept him! He had not known her; the knowing had lost her to him, and this had been his real awakening; for he knew now how deep had been that slumber wherein he dreamily celebrated the superiority of "friendship"! The sleep-walker had wakened to bitter knowledge of love and life, finding himself a failure in both.

He had made a burnt offering of his dreams, and the sacrifice had been an unforgivable hurt to Mary.