That, however, would probably have happened in any case, and to object on this account, even in his secret heart, would be abominably selfish.

Indeed, what right had he even to consider the matter?
The young lady had come into his life very strangely, and made a curious impression upon him; she was now going out of it by ordinary channels, and soon nothing but the impression would remain.

It was proper, natural, and the way of the world; there was nothing more to be said.
Somehow he was in a dreary mood, and everything bored him.

He fetched Mary's last letter.

There was nothing in it but some chit-chat, except the postscript, which was rather longer than the letter, and ran: "I am glad to hear the young lady whom you fished up out of the sea is such an assistance to you in your experiments.