always more definitely separated from himself.

And he had seen himself exceptionally alone, even almost miserably
alone.

Then fate had spun tragedy into her web. He had nearly died in Africa,
and had been nursed back to life by this friend of whom he had been
jealous. And they had gone together to Sicily, to the husband whose
memory Hermione still adored. And then had followed swiftly the
murder, the murderer's departure to America, saved by the silence of
Gaspare, and the journey of the bereaved woman to Italy, where Artois
had left her and returned to France.

Once more Artois had his friend, released from the love of another
man. But he wished it were not so. Hermione's generosity met with a
full response of generosity from him. All his egotism and selfishness
dropped from him then, shaken down like dead leaves by the tempest of
a genuine emotion. His knowledge of her grief, his understanding of
its depth, brought to him a sorrow that was keen, and even exquisitely
painful. For a long while he was preoccupied by an intense desire to
assuage it. He strove to do so by acting almost in defiance of his
nature, by fostering deception. From the Abetone Hermione had written
him letters, human documents--the tale of the suffering of a woman's
heart. Many reserves she had from him and from every one. The most
intimate agony was for her alone, and she kept it in her soul as the
priest keeps the Sacred Host in its tabernacle. But some of her grief
she showed in her letters, and some of her desire for comfort. And
without any definite intention, she indicated to her subtle and
devoted friend the only way in which he could console her.