He could retire with an income of eight hundred and having abandoned all idea of ever marrying this seemed to him more than sufficient.
The Listers had come back to England, and Mrs.Lister had written to her brother more than once, begging him to run down to Lidford.

Of course she had expressed herself freely upon the subject of Marian's conduct in these letters, reprobating the girl's treachery and ingratitude, and congratulating Gilbert upon his escape from so ineligible a connection.
Mr.Fenton had put his sister off with excuses hitherto, and had subjected himself thereby to sundry feminine reproaches upon his coldness and want of affection for Mrs.Lister and her children.

"It was very different when Marian Nowell was here," she wrote; "you thought it no trouble to come to us then." No answer came to his letter to Mrs.Holbrook--which scarcely called for a reply, unless it had been a few lines of thanks, in acknowledgment of his interest in her behalf.

He had looked for such a letter, and was a little disappointed by its non-appearance.

The omission, slight as it was, served to strengthen his bitter feeling that his friendship in this quarter was unneeded and unvalued.
Business in the City happened to be rather slack at this time; and it struck Mr.Fenton all at once that he could scarcely have a better opportunity for wasting two or three days in a visit of duty to the Listers, and putting an end to his sister's reproachful letters.