Why not resume the friendly relation which had meant so much to him before other ideas had entered in?
Ah! it was no longer easy.

The distress of which he was conscious had some deep roots.
He must marry--the estate demanded it.

But his temperament was invincibly cautious; his mind moved slowly.

How was he to begin upon any fresh quest?
His quiet pursuit of Elizabeth had come about naturally and by degrees.

Propinquity had done it.