I have said that he read Alice's letter with an agony of sorrow; as he sat with it in his hand he suffered as, probably, he had never suffered before. But there was nothing in his countenance to show that he was in pain. Seward had received some long epistle, crossed from end to end,--indicative, I should say, of a not far distant termination to that college tutorship,--and was reading it with placid contentment. It did not occur to him to look across at Grey, but had he done so, I doubt whether he would have seen anything to attract his attention. But Grey, though he was wounded, would not allow himself to be dismayed. There was less hope now than before, but there might still be hope;--hope for her, even though there might be none for him. Tidings had reached his ears also as to George Vavasor, which had taught him to believe that the man was needy, reckless, and on the brink of ruin. Such a marriage to Alice Vavasor would be altogether ruinous. Whatever might be his own ultimate fate he would still seek to save her from that. Her cousin, doubtless, wanted her money. 
As he sat with the letter in his hand he suffered as, probably, he had never suffered before. But there was nothing in his face to show that he was in pain. Seward was reading a long letter with placid contentment. It did not occur to him to look across at Grey, but had he done so, I doubt whether he would have seen anything unusual.
But Grey, though wounded, would not allow himself to be dismayed. There was less hope now than before, but there might still be hope - hope for her, if not for him. He had heard that George Vavasor was needy, reckless, and on the brink of ruin. Such a marriage would be altogether ruinous to Alice. Whatever might be his own ultimate fate, he would still seek to save her from that. Her cousin, doubtless, wanted her money. 