Goodness is a large, often a prospective word; like harvest, which at one stage when we talk of it lies all underground, with an indeterminate future; is the germ prospering in the darkness?
at another, it has put forth delicate green blades, and by-and-by the trembling blossoms are ready to be dashed off by an hour of rough wind or rain.

Each stage has its peculiar blight, and may have the healthy life choked out of it by a particular action of the foul land which rears or neighbors it, or by damage brought from foulness afar.
"Anna had got it into her head that you would want to ride after the hounds this morning," said Rex, whose secret associations with Anna's words made this speech seem quite perilously near the most momentous of subjects.
"Did she ?" said Gwendolen, laughingly.

"What a little clairvoyant she is!" "Shall you ?" said Rex, who had not believed in her intending to do it if the elders objected, but confided in her having good reasons.
"I don't know.

I can't tell what I shall do till I get there.
Clairvoyants are often wrong: they foresee what is likely.

I am not fond of what is likely: it is always dull.