はばかりながったそうだ
憚りながったそうだ
habakarinagatta sōda

Evidential Auxiliary

Expresses hearsay about a past event ("I heard that...") of はばかりながら

1. Apparently, they were hesitant.; Apparently, they were reluctant.

Past/Perfective
Hearsay Evidence
Usually Written in Kana