He had made up his mind to declare nothing till the irretrievable step was taken, when reproaches only could befall him; to Alice as little as to any one else had he breathed of his purposes.

And he could no longer even take into account the uncertainty of his success; to doubt of that would have been insufferable at the point which he had reached in self-abandonment.

Yet day after day saw the postponement of the question which would decide his fate.

Between him and Mrs.Waltham the language of allusion was at length put aside; he spoke plainly of his wishes, and sought her encouragement.

This was not wanting, but the mother begged for time.