It was a class of marriages for which he had always felt a strong dislike, even suspicion and contempt; and though he was far more fitted, in family as well as personal excellence, for such a match, than three out of four who make them, yet he shrank with disgust from the notion of being himself classed at last among the match-making parsons.

Whether there was "carnal pride" or not in that last thought, his soul so loathed it, that he would gladly have thrown up his cure at Aberalva; and would have done so actually, but for one word which Tom Thurnall had spoken to him, and that was--Cholera.
That the cholera might come; that it probably would come, in the course of the next two months, was news to him which was enough to keep him at his post, let what would be the consequence.

And gradually he began to see a way out of his difficulty--and a very simple one; and that was to die.
"That is the solution after all," said he.

"I am not strong enough for God's work: but I will not shrink from it, if I can help.

If I cannot master it, let it kill me; so at least I may have peace.