Yet cause must be assigned, and the best form of words he could excogitate ran thus: 'Family circumstances render it desirable--almost necessary--that I should spend the next twelve months in London.

In spite of sincere reluctance to leave Whitelaw College, I am compelled to take this step.' The lady must interpret that as best she might.

Very hard indeed was the task of begging a continuance of her bounty under these changed conditions.

Could he but have resigned the money, all had been well; his tone might then have been dignified without effort.

But such disinterestedness he could not afford.