His first torturing love might be for ever frustrate, but it had revealed him to himself.

He looked forth upon the world, its activities, its glories, and behold there was for him but one prize worth winning, the love of the ideal woman.
He found a letter at Ewell.

It contained a card of invitation; Mrs.
John Jacks graciously announced to him that she would be at home on an evening a week hence, at nine o'clock.
How came he to have forgotten the Jacks family?
Not once had he mentioned to Miss Derwent that he was on friendly terms with these most respectable people.

What a foolish omission! It would at once have given him a better standing in her sight, have smoothed their social relations.
Instantly, his plan of exile was forgotten.

He would accept this invitation, and on the same day, in the afternoon, he would boldly call at the Derwents'.