"You see Sowerby had been at it all his days, and never did anything else.

I only began late in life." The major had intended to stay and dine at Chaldicotes, but when he heard what was said about Grace, his heart became sad, and he made some excuse as to his child, and returned home.

Dr.Thorne had declared that no man could allow himself to fall in love with her.
But what if a man had fallen in love with her beforehand?
What if a man had not only fallen in love, but spoken of his love?
Had he been alone with the doctor, he would, I think, have told him the whole of his trouble; for in all the county there was no man whom he would sooner have trusted with his secret.

This Dr.Thorne was known far and wide for his soft heart, his open hand, and his well-sustained indifference to the world's opinions on most of those social matters with which the world meddles; and therefore the words which he had spoken had more weight with Major Grantly than they would have had from other lips.

As he drove home he almost made up his mind that he would consult Dr.Thorne upon the matter.