from an engagement which was based on a misconception.’  It would no doubt be difficult to get through all these details; but it might be accomplished gradually,—­unless in the process of doing so he should incur the fate of the gentleman in Oregon.  At any rate he would declare to her as well as he could the ground on which he claimed a right to consider himself free, and would bear the consequences.  Such was the resolve which he made on his journey up from Liverpool, and that trouble was also on his mind when he rose up to attack Mr Melmotte single-handed at the Board.

When the Board was over, he also went down to the Beargarden.  Perhaps, with reference to the Board, the feeling which hurt him most was the conviction that he was spending money which he...