A feeling of weakness and irresolution succeeded.
"Ah!" he murmured to himself, "if all had not been so blindly cast upon this venture, I might be willing to wait the issue, providing for the worst by a new disposition of affairs, and by new efforts here.

But I was too eager, too hopeful, too insanely confident.
Every thing is now beyond my reach." This was the state of his mind when Mr.Allison, whom he had not met in a familiar manner for several weeks, joined him, saying, as he came up with extended hand, and fine face, bright with the generous interest in others that always burned in his heart-- "What is this I hear, Mr.Markland?
Is it true that you are going away, to be absent for some months?
Mr.Willet was telling me about it this morning." "It is too true," replied Mr.Markland, assuming a cheerful air, yet betraying much of the troubled feeling that oppressed him.

"The calls of business cannot always be disregarded." "No--but, if I understand aright, you contemplate going a long distance South--somewhere into Central America." "Such is my destination.

Having been induced to invest money in a promising enterprise in that far-off region, it is no more than right to look after my interests there." "With so much to hold your thoughts and interests here," said Mr.
Allison, "I can hardly understand why you should let them wander off so far from home." "And I can hardly understand it myself," returned Mr.Markland, in a lower tone of voice, as if the admission were made reluctantly.

"But so it is.