He endeavoured to do his duty in accordance with his lights, and had succeeded in weaning himself from personal indulgences, to which during the early days of his high hopes he had become accustomed.

And in that matter of his unrequited love he had been true throughout.
In his hard, dry, unpleasant way he had loved the woman; and when at least he learned to know that she would not have his love, he had been unable to transfer his heart to another.

This had happened just at the period of his father's death, and he had endeavoured to console himself with politics, with what fate we have already seen.

A constant, upright, and by no means insincere man was our Christopher Dale,--thin and meagre in his mental attributes, by no means even understanding the fullness of a full man, with power of eye-sight very limited in seeing aught which was above him, but yet worthy of regard in that he had realised a path of duty and did endeavour to walk therein.

And, moreover, our Mr Christopher Dale was a gentleman.
Such in character was the squire of Allington, the only regular inhabitant of the Great House.