He put his shoulder to the wheel with a will, and worked for the first three years of his business career as it is not given to many men to work in the course of their lives.

By that time the ship had been steered clear of all rocks and quicksands, and rode the commercial waters gallantly.

Gilbert was not a rich man, but was in a fair way to become a rich man; and the name of Fenton stood as high as in the palmiest days of his father's career.
His sister had fortunately married Martin Lister some years before her father's death, and had received her dowry at the time of her marriage.
Gilbert had only himself to work for.

At first he had worked for the sake of his dead father's honour and repute; later he fell into a groove, like other men, and worked for the love of money-making--not with any sordid love of money, but with that natural desire to accumulate which grows out of a business career.
To-night he was in an unusually thoughtful humour, and inclined to weigh things in the balance with a doubtfulness as to their value which was new to him.

The complete idleness and emptiness of his life in the country had made him meditative.