CHAPTER VII.
CATCHING AND GETTING CAUGHT.
Did you never notice how many reasons, never thought of before, against having an aching tooth drawn, occur to you when once you stand on the dentist's door-stone ready to ring the bell?
Albert Charlton was full of doubts of what Miss Isabel Marlay's opinion of his sister might be, and of what Miss Isabel Marlay might think of him after his intemperate denunciation of ministers and all other men of the learned professions.
It was quite a difficult thing for him to speak to her on the subject of his sister's love-affair, and so, whenever an opportunity presented itself, he found reason to apprehend interruption.

On one plea or another he deferred the matter until afternoon, and when afternoon came, Isa had gone out.

So that what had seemed to him in the watchfulness of the night an affair for prompt action, was now deferred till evening.

But in his indecision and impatience Charlton found it impossible to remain quiet.
He must do something, and so he betook himself to his old recreation of catching insects.

He would have scorned to amuse himself with so cruel a sport as fishing; he would not eat a fish when it was caught.