"If there was a point left in my affairs to strain, I would strain it till it cracked again; but I received letters this morning which showed me pretty clearly where I stand, and it is not far off the end of the plank. My foreign market, at any rate, is gorged. If there is no change--if there dawns no prospect of peace--if the Orders in Council are not, at least, suspended, so as to open our way in the West--I do not know where I am to turn. I see no more light than if I were sealed in a rock, so that for me to pretend to offer a man a livelihood would be to do a dishonest thing."
"Come, let us take a turn on the front. It is a starlight night," said Mr. Yorke.
They passed out, closing the front door after them, and side by side paced the frost-white pavement to and fro.

"I received letters this morning which showed me pretty clearly where I stand," said Moore, "and it is not far off the end of the plank. If there is no change - if the Orders in Council are not suspended - I do not know where I am to turn. I see no light, and for me to pretend to offer a man a livelihood would be dishonest."
"Come, let us take a turn outside. It is a starlit night," said Mr. Yorke.
They went out, and paced the frost-white pavement.
