Turn as he might, he could find no way in which to reopen an approach to either the Oxford tutor or the Crimean nurse.

They were plainly too much for him, and he had to acknowledge his defeat.

The experience was good for him; he did not realize this at the time, nor did he enjoy the sensation of not getting what he wanted.
Nevertheless, a reverse or two was due.

Not that his success was having any undesirable effect upon him; his Dutch common sense saved him from any such calamity.

But at thirty years of age it is not good for any one, no matter how well balanced, to have things come his way too fast and too consistently.