The husband's friends keep silence, and perhaps, like the mariner's bird, they meditate all the more.
What Meredith proposed to do was to enter into a partnership with Victor Durnovo, and when the purpose of it was accomplished, to let each man go his way.

Such partnerships are entered into every day.

Men have carried through a brilliant campaign--a world-affecting scheme--side by side, working with one mind and one heart; and when the result has been attained they drop out of each other's lives for ever.

They are created so, for a very good purpose, no doubt.

But sometimes Providence steps in and turns the little point of contact into the leaven that leaveneth the whole lump.