He resolved that during his next visit he would formally propose to Gertrude.
The determination to do this, and a strong hope that he might do it successfully, kept him up during the interval.

On the following week he was to go to his father's place to shoot, having obtained leave of absence for a month; and he felt that he could still enjoy himself if he could take with him the conviction that all was right at Surbiton Cottage.

Mrs.Woodward, in her letter, though she had spoken much of the girls, had said nothing special about Gertrude.

Nevertheless, Norman gathered from it that she intended that he should go thither to look for comfort, and that he would find there the comfort that he required.
And Mrs.Woodward had intended that such should be the effect of her letter.

It was at present the dearest wish of her heart to see Norman and Gertrude married.