He entertained a pronounced dissension with bachelors pretending to independence.

It could not be argued publicly, and the more the pity:--for a slight encouragement, he would have done it: his outlook over the waves of bachelors and (by present conditions mostly constrained) spinsters--and another outlook, midnight upon Phlegethon to the thoughts of men, made him deem it urgent.

And it helped the plea in his own excuse, as Colney pointed out to the son of Nature.

That, he had to admit, was true.

He charged it upon Mrs.Burman, for twisting the most unselfish and noblest of his thoughts; and he promised himself it was to cease on the instant when the circumstance, which Nature was remiss in not bringing about to-day or to-morrow, had come to pass.