Butwhenhetookhertohimself，hadhenotrescuedherfromtheverydepthsofthelowestmisery：fromthedegradationoftheworkhouse；
fromthescornofhonest-borncharity-children；fromthelowestoftheworld\'slowconditions？Wasshenotnowtheappleofhiseye，hisonegreatsovereigncomfort——hispride，hishappiness，hisglory？Washetomakeherover，tomakeanyportionofherovertoothers，if，bydoingso，shemightbeabletosharethewealth，aswellasthecoarsemannersanduncouthsocietyofheratpresentunknownconnexions？He，whohadneverworshippedwealthonhisownbehalf；he，whohadscornedtheidolofthegold，andhadeverbeenteachinghertoscornit；washenowtoshowthathisphilosophyhadallbeenfalseassoonasthetemptationtodosowasputinhisway？
Butyet，whatmanwouldmarrythisbastardchild，withoutasixpence，andbringnotonlypoverty，butillbloodalsoonhisownchildren？Itmightbeverywellforhim，DrThorne；forhimwhosecareerwasmade，whosename，atanyrate，washisown；forhimwhohadafixedstanding-groundintheworld；itmightbewellforhimtoindulgeinlargeviewsofaphilosophyantagonistictotheworld\'spractice；buthadhearighttodoitforhisniece？Whatmanwouldmarryagirlsoplaced？Forthoseamongwhomshemighthavelegitimatelyfoundalevel，educationhadnowutterlyunfittedher。Andthen，hewellknewthatshewouldneverputoutherhandintokenoflovetoanyonewithouttellingallsheknewandallshesurmisedastoherownbirth。
Andthatquestionofthisevening；haditnotbeeninstigatedbysomeappealonherpart？Wastherenotalreadywithinherbreastsomecausefordisquietudewhichhadmadehersopertinacious？Whyelsehadshetoldhimthen，forthefirsttime，thatshedidnotknowwheretorankherself？Ifsuchanappealhadbeenmadetoher，itmusthavecomefromyoungFrankGresham。What，insuchcase，woulditbehovehimtodo？Shouldhepackuphisall，hislancet-case，pestleandmortar，andseekanewfreshgroundinanewworld，leavingbehindahugetriumphtothoselearnedenemiesofhis，Fillgrave，Century，andRerechild？BetterthatthanremainatGreshamsburyatthecostofthechild\'sheartandpride。
Andsohewalkedslowlybackwardsandforwardsthroughhisgarden，meditatingthesethingspainfullyenough。