Then he turned slowly into a little by-path which led across the park up to the house, and left Arthur Fletcher standing alone by the river's bank.
And so by degrees the blow had come full home to him.

He had been twice refused.

Then rumours had reached him,--not at first that he had a rival, but that there was a man who might possibly become so.
And now this rivalry, and its success, were declared to him plainly.
He told himself from this moment that he had not a chance.

Looking forward he could see it all.

He understood the girl's character sufficiently to be sure that she would not be wafted about, from one lover to another, by change of scene.