Impossible for Lady Whitelaw to understand the complexities of a character such as Godwin's, even had she enjoyed opportunities of studying it; but many a woman of the world would have directed herself more cautiously after reading that letter of his.

Peak's impulse was to thank her for the past, and declare that henceforth he would dispense with aid; only the choking in his throat obstructed some such utterance.

He resented profoundly her supposition (natural enough) that his chief aim was to establish himself in a self-supporting career.

What?
Am I to be grateful for a mere chance of earning my living?
Have I not shown that I am capable of something more than the ordinary lot in life?
From the heights of her assured independence, does she look down upon me as a young man seeking a 'place'?
He was filled with wrath, and all because a good, commonplace woman could not divine that he dreamt of European fame.
'I am very sorry that I can't take that into account,' he managed to say.

'I wish to give this next year exclusively to scientific study, and after that I shall see what course is open to me.' He was not of the men who can benefit by patronage, and be simply grateful for it.