He did not omit to tell himself that very probably he might not succeed at all.

He was a man not at all apt to feel assurance that he could carry all before him in love.

But in this matter, as in all others which required from him any personal effort, he prepared himself to do his best, leaving the consequences to follow as they might.

When he threw his seed corn into the earth with all such due appliances of agricultural skill and industry as his capital and experience enabled him to use, he did his part towards the production of next year's crop; and after that he must leave it to a higher Power to give to him, or to withhold from him, the reward of his labour.

He had found that, as a rule, the reward had been given when the labour had been honest; and he was now prepared to follow the same plan, with the same hopes, in this matter of his love-making.
After much consideration,--very much consideration, a consideration which took him the whole time that he was brushing his hair and washing his teeth,--he resolved that he would, in the first instance, speak to Mr.Amedroz.Not that he intended that the father should win the daughter for him.