And then I saw that this was just the very thing to do, and that I couldn't be proud of it ever, because the whole thing was so mean and second-rate.

Well, I did it, and it did me a lot of good somehow.

I felt really rolled in the dirt, and that little thing in the post-office afterwards rubbed it in.

I saw how chock-full I must be of conceit really to mind that, as I did, and to show off, and talk like a gentleman.
"Then there came the priest who refused to help me.

That made me for a time perfectly furious, because I had always said to myself that Catholics, and especially priests, would always understand.