I would make a serious purpose of it.

She should find me a friend worth having.' His thoughts wandered on a while in this direction.

It was pleasant to see himself in the future as Miss Bretherton's philosopher and friend, but in the end the sense of reality gained upon his dreams.

'I am a fool!' he said to himself resolutely at last, 'and I may as well go to bed and put her out of my mind.

The chance is over--gone--done with, if it ever existed.' The next morning, on coming down to breakfast, he saw among his letters a handwriting which startled him.