His natural feelings prompted him to justify himself and prove that she was in the wrong; but to prove her in the wrong would mean irritating her still more, and widening the breach which was the cause of all the trouble.
Un sentimento istintivo pretendeva la giustificazione e la dimostrazione della colpa di lei; ma mostrare la colpa di lei significava irritarla maggiormente e aumentare quel distacco che era la causa di tutta la pena.