But, loving her as he did, and resolving that in spite of all difficulties she should become his wife, there could be no reason why he should not,--on her account as well as on his own,--take advantage of any circumstances that there might be in his favour.
As he wandered among the unsavoury beasts, elbowed on every side by the Sunday visitors to the garden, he made up his mind that he would first let Lady Laura understand what were his intentions with regard to his future career, and then he would ask her to join her lot to his.

At every turn the chances would of course be very much against him;--ten to one against him, perhaps, on every point; but it was his lot in life to have to face such odds.

Twelve months since it had been much more than ten to one against his getting into Parliament; and yet he was there.

He expected to be blown into fragments,--to sheep-skinning in Australia, or packing preserved meats on the plains of Paraguay; but when the blowing into atoms should come, he was resolved that courage to bear the ruin should not be wanting.

Then he quoted a line or two of a Latin poet, and felt himself to be comfortable.
"So, here you are again, Mr.Finn," said a voice in his ear.
"Yes, Miss Fitzgibbon; here I am again." "I fancied you members of Parliament had something else to do besides looking at wild beasts.