He even began to suspect that when he did screw himself up to the point of proposing he should make by no means as easy a conquest of the fair widow as he had flattered himself.

She, good lady, liked him as her boy's guardian, but in his own personal capacity was disappointingly indifferent to his attentions.
With all these worries upon him it was little wonder if Mr Ratman's letters hurt his feelings.
He was very much inclined to throw up the sponge and vanish from the Maxfield horizon, and might have attempted the feat had not a letter which arrived on the following day suggested another way out of his difficulties.

It came from America, addressed to the late Squire, and read thus-- "Dear Ingleton,--I guess you've forgotten the scape-grace brother-in- law who, thirty-six years ago, on the day you married his sister Ruth, borrowed a hundred pounds of you without the slightest intention of paying you back.

He has not forgotten you.

Your hundred pounds started me in life right away here, where I am now a boss and mayor of my city.