His grief was genuine and it was profound.

Yet he took his punishment in the right spirit.

He did not blame any one but himself; it was only a just retribution for the thing he had done.

Only what made it hard to bear was the fact that the chastisement had fallen upon him long after he had repented of the crime, long after he had resolved to lead a new and upright life; but with shut teeth he determined still to carry out that resolve; he would devote all his future life to living down the past.

It might be hard; it might be one long struggle through many, many years, but he would do it.