As for himself he had lately begun to ask himself seriously how much he was interested in Pamela.

For in truth, though he was no coxcomb, he could not help seeing--all the more because of Pamela's variable moods towards him--that she was at least incipiently interested in him.

If so, was it fair to her that they should correspond ?--and that he should come to Mannering whenever he was asked and military duty allowed, now that the Squire's embargo was at least partially removed?
He confessed to himself that he was glad to come, that Pamela attracted him.

At the same time there was in him a stern sense that the time was no time for love-making.

The German hosts were gathering; the vast breakdown in Russia was freeing more and more of them for the Western assault.