It would have cost him discomfort to do so, the apprehension of entering upon the unknown.
The present was the third summer which had passed without his quitting home.

Anxiety troubled his countenance as Emily made the proposal.
'Not this year, I think,' he said, as if desirous of passing the subject by.
'Father, what possible objection can there be to my bearing the expense of a week at Cleethorpes?
You know how well I can afford it; indeed I should like to go; it is rather unkind of you to refuse.' This was an old subject of discussion.

Since Emily had lived away from home, not only her father, but her mother just as strenuously, had refused to take from her any of the money that she earned.

It had been her habit at first indirectly to overcome this resistance by means of substantial presents in holiday time; but she found such serious discomfort occasioned by the practice that most reluctantly she had abandoned it.

For the understanding of the Hoods' attitude in this matter, it must be realised how deeply their view of life was coloured by years of incessant preoccupation with pecuniary difficulties.