At heart he knew that he would not present himself for the Civil Service examination; but he durst not yet put the resolve into words.

It seemed a sort of madness, after so many months of laborious preparation, and the fixity of purpose which had grown with his studious habit.

And what a return for the patient kindness with which his father had counselled and assisted him! He thought of Daniel and Alexander.

Was he, too, going to drift in life, instead of following a steadfast, manly course?
The perception and fear of such a danger were something new to him.
Piers had seen himself as an example of moral and intellectual vigour.
His abandonment of commerce had shown as a strong step in practical wisdom; the fourteen hours of daily reading had flattered his pride.
Thereupon came this sudden collapse of the whole scheme.

He could no longer endure the prospects for which he had toiled so strenuously.
But for shame, he would have bundled together all the books that lay on his table, and have flung them out of sight.
In the afternoon, he sought a private conversation with Mrs.Hannaford.
It was not easily managed, as Hannaford and Olga were both at home; but, by watching and waiting, he caught a moment when the lady stood alone in the garden.
"Do you think," he asked, with tremulous, sudden speech, "that I might call at Dr.Derwent's ?" "Why not ?" was the answer, but given with troubled countenance.