He's just a boy. Rennie did not utter that as an excuse; rather he said it as if to reassure himself.
Rennie told himself that the person was just a boy because he was frightened of him.
mnli hypothesis: Rennie told himself that the person was just a boy because he was frightened of him. premise: He's just a boy. Rennie did not utter that as an excuse; rather he said it as if to reassure himself.