In his case it would not mean a grapple with temporary difficulties, or a curtailing of unnecessary luxuries, but disaster complete and irretrievable, perhaps for years.

If he failed, he would vanish out of her life; and it was becoming rapidly clear that, however hard pressed he might be, there was, after all, no way in which she could help him.

The unyielding pride or stubbornness which animated him at length appeared an almost hateful thing.
Ida did not sleep particularly well that night, and when she went down to breakfast rather late the next morning there was a letter beside her plate.

She looked up at her father when she had opened it.
"Susan Frisingham is coming here from Toronto for a day or two before she goes back to New York," she said.

"She suggests taking me back with her." "Ah!" said Stirling, with a barely perceptible trace of dryness.