Suddenly a thought struck him; there was certainly one way out of his difficulties: he could ask advice.

He could lay the whole matter frankly before some dispassionate person, whose judgment should determine his course.

Why had he not thought of it before! Mr.Denner's face brightened; he walked gayly along, and began to hum to himself:-- "Oh, wert thou, love, but near me, But near, near, near me, How fondly wouldst thou cheer me"-- Here he stopped abruptly.

Whom should he ask?
He went carefully through his list of friends, as he trudged along the muddy road.
Not Dr.Howe: he did not take a serious enough view of such things; Mr.
Denner recalled that scene in his office, and his little face burned.
Then, there was Mrs.Dale: she was a woman, and of course she would know the real merit of each of the sisters.

Stay: Mrs.Dale did not always seem in sympathy with the Misses Woodhouse; he had even heard her say things which were not, perhaps, perfectly courteous; that the sisters had been able to defend themselves, Mr.Denner overlooked.