I could not bring myself to do that

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to give me your considered opinion concerning the interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

I wished it would come back, - but my memory was a blank. He wise way would have been to frankly own up, but I could not bring myself to do that, after the young girl had praised me so for recognizing her. (Mark Twain, “A Tramp Abroad”)

I could not bring myself to do that = I didn’t have the courage to do that

V.