He made no declaration to Bell; but Bell, young as she was, understood well that he would fain have done so, had not his courage failed him, or rather had not his prudence prevented him.

To Mrs Dale he did speak, not openly avowing his love even to her, but hinting at it, and then talking to her of his unsatisfied hopes and professional disappointments.

"It is not that I complain of being poor as I am," said he, "or at any rate, not so poor that my poverty must be any source of discomfort to me; but I could hardly marry with such an income as I have at present." "But it will increase, will it not ?" said Mrs Dale.
"It may some day, when I am becoming an old man," he said.

"But of what use will it be to me then ?" Mrs Dale could not tell him that, as far as her voice in the matter went, he was welcome to woo her daughter and marry her, poor as he was, and doubly poor as they would both be together on such a pittance.

He had not even mentioned Bell's name, and had he done so she could only have bade him wait and hope.