He had, partly from his isolated life, partly from natural bent, a curious innocence and ignorance in his conception of human estimates of conduct.

He had not the same vantage-points with many other people, and indeed in many cases seemed to hold the identical ones which he had chosen when a child and first observed anything.
If now and then he overheard a word of expostulation, he never interpreted it rightly.

He thought that people considered it wrong for Charlotte to do so much for him, and weary herself, when he had treated her so badly.

And he agreed with them.
He thought that he should never stand upright again.

He went always before his own mental vision bent over like his grandfather, his face inclined ever downward towards his miserable future.
Still, as he sat after William had gotten him up in the morning, bowed over pitifully in his chair, there was at times a strange look in his eyes as he watched Charlotte moving about, which seemed somehow to give the lie to his bent back.