"
"He is only in a good humor, I take it, when he has something to get.
However, I must be off now, or the legitimate period of Uncle Carroll's
absence will be over."
Mr. Grey, when he was left alone, at once gave up the manipulation of
his papers, and, throwing himself back into his chair, began to think of
that future life of which he had talked so easily to his daughter. What
should he do with himself? He believed that he could manage with his
books for two hours a day; but even of that he was not sure. He much
doubted whether for many years past the time devoted to reading in his
own house had amounted to one hour a day. He thought that he could
employ himself in the garden for two hours; but that would fail him when
there should be hail, or fierce sunshine, or frost, or snow, or rain.
Eating and drinking would be much to him; but he could not but look
forward to self-reproach if eating and drinking were to be the joy of
his life. Then he thought of Dolly's life,--how much purer and better and
nobler it had been than his own. She talked in a slighting, careless
tone of her usual day's work, but how much of her time had been occupied
in doing the tasks of others? He knew well that she disliked the
Carrolls.
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