He became magnanimous and resolved to forget yesterday and make the most of today.

He would see Mrs.Goddard of course; perhaps he would show her a little coldness at first, giving her to understand that she had not treated him well on the previous afternoon; then he would interest her by his talk--he would repeat to her one of those unlucky odes and translate it for her benefit, making use of the freedom he would thus get in order to make her an unlimited number of graceful compliments.

Perhaps, too, he ought to pay more attention to Nellie, if he wished to conciliate her mother.

Women, he reflected, have such strange prejudices! He wondered whether it would be proper for him to call upon Mrs.Goddard.
He was not quite sure about it, and he was rather ashamed of having so little knowledge of the world; but he believed that in Billingsfield he might run the risk.

There had been talk of skating again that morning, and so, about ten o'clock, John told Mr.Ambrose he would go for a short walk and then join them all at the pond in the park.