He had never felt so lonely THERE.

In his rigid self-examination he thought Kitty right in protesting against the effect of his youthfulness and optimism.

Yet he was also right in being himself.

There is an egoism in the highest simplicity; and Barker, while willing to believe in others' methods, never abandoned his own aims.
He was right in loving Kitty as he did; he knew that she was better and more lovable than she could believe herself to be; but he was willing to believe it pained and discomposed her if he showed it before company.
He would not have her change even this peculiarity--it was part of herself--no more than he would have changed himself.

And behind what he had conceived was her clear, practical common sense, all this time had been her belief that she had deceived her father! Poor dear, dear Kitty! And she had suffered because stupid people had conceived that her father had led him away in selfish speculations.