He was old, and certain luxuries had become habits if not necessaries with him.

Of course he did not say this to himself; and still less did he say it to her.

But he let her see that he did not enjoy the chance which had thrown them again in such close relations with Burnamy, and he did pot hide his belief that the Marches were somehow to blame for it.

This made it impossible for her to write at once to Mrs.March as she had promised; but she was determined that it should not make her unjust to Burnamy.

She would not avoid him; she would not let anything that had happened keep her from showing that she felt his kindness and was glad of his help.
Of course they knew no one else in Weimar, and his presence merely as a fellow-countryman would have been precious.