He was divided between his old affection for Miss Grove, his new but somewhat languid interest in Harriet, and a dearly cherished scheme for bringing about a marriage between his sister Elizabeth and his friend Hogg.

The letters written to Hogg at this period (volume 1 pages 387-418) are exceedingly important and interesting, revealing as they do the perturbation of his feelings and the almost morbid excitement of his mind.

But they are unluckily so badly edited, whether designedly or by accident, that it would be dangerous to draw minute conclusions from them.

As they stand, they raise injurious suspicions, which can only be set at rest by a proper assignment of dates and explanation.
Meanwhile his destiny was shaping itself with a rapidity that plunged him suddenly into decisive and irrevocable action.

It is of the greatest moment to ascertain precisely what his feelings were during this summer with regard to Harriet.