His clearest vision was when he made out that what he most desired was an account more full and free of Mrs.Newsome's state of mind than any he felt he could now expect from herself; that calculation at least went hand in hand with the sharp consciousness of wishing to prove to himself that he was not afraid to look his behaviour in the face.

If he was by an inexorable logic to pay for it he was literally impatient to know the cost, and he held himself ready to pay in instalments.

The first instalment would be precisely this entertainment of Sarah; as a consequence of which moreover, he should know vastly better how he stood..