“Surely, Mr. Headstone, I do believe it. Surely I have always known it from Charley.”

“I ask you to believe that if I were to offer my home such as it is, my station such as it is, my affections such as they are, to any one of the best considered, and best qualified, and most distinguished, among the young women engaged in my calling, they would probably be accepted. Even readily accepted.”

“I do not doubt it,” said Lizzie, with her eyes upon the ground.

“I have sometimes had it in my thoughts to make that offer and to settle down as many men of my class do: I on the one side of a school, my wife on the other, both of us interested in the same work.”

“Why have you not done so?” asked Lizzie Hexam. “Why do you not do so?”