But Captain Broughton did not immediately retire to bed, nor when he
did so was he able to sleep at once. Had this step that he had taken
been a wise one? He was not a man who, in worldly matters, had allowed
things to arrange themselves for him, as is the case with so many men.
He had formed views for himself, and had a theory of life. Money for
money's sake he had declared to himself to be bad. Money, as a
concomitant to things which were in themselves good, he had declared to
himself to be good also. That concomitant in this affair of his
marriage, he had now missed. Well; he had made up his mind to that,
and would put up with the loss. He had means of living of his own, the
means not so extensive as might have been desirable. That it would be
well for him to become a married man, looking merely to the state of
life as opposed to his present state, he had fully resolved. On that
point, therefore, there was nothing to repent. That Patty Woolsworthy
was good, affectionate, clever, and beautiful, he was sufficiently
satisfied. It would be odd indeed if he were not so satisfied now,
seeing that for the last four months he had so declared to himself
daily with many inward asseverations. And yet though he repeated, now
again, that he was satisfied, I do not think that he was so fully
satisfied of it as he had been throughout the whole of those four
months. It is sad to say so, but I fear--I fear that such was the
case. When you have your plaything, how much of the anticipated
pleasure vanishes, especially if it be won easily.

He had told none of his family what were his intentions in this second
visit to Devonshire, and now he had to bethink himself whether they
would be satisfied. What would his sister say, she who had married the
Honourable Augustus Gumbleton, gold-stick-in-waiting to Her Majesty's
Privy Council? Would she receive Patience with open arms, and make