But though fancy saw her for a moment in some strange travestie of years and education and circumstances, that was only a flash of fancy -- not dwelt upon.

Other thoughts were more near and pressing, though almost as vague.

In vain he endeavoured to calculate expenses that he did not know, wants that he could not estimate, difficulties that loomed up with no certain outline, means that were far beyond ken.

It was but confusion; except his purpose, clear and steady as the sun, though as yet it lighted not the way but only the distant goal; _that_ was always in sight.

And under all these thoughts, little looked at yet fully recognized, his mother's question; and a certain security that _she_ had that which would 'really last.' He knew it.