And now, at this moment, what was his outlook into life generally? He had very high ambition, and a fair hope of gratifying it if he could only provide that things should go well with him for a year or so. He was still a poor man, having been once nearly a rich man; but still so much of the result of his nearly acquired riches remained to him, that on the strength of them he might probably find his way into Parliament. He had paid the cost of the last attempt, and might, in a great degree, carry on this present attempt on credit. If he succeeded there would be open to him a mode of life, agreeable in itself, and honourable among men. But how was he to bear the cost of this for the next year, or the next two years? His grandfather was still alive, and would probably live over that period. If he married Alice he would do so with no idea of cheating her out of her money. She should learn,--nay, she had already learned from his own lips,--how perilous was his enterprise. But he knew her to be a woman who would boldly risk all in money, though no consideration would induce her to stir a hair's breadth towards danger in reputation. 
George Vavasor had very high ambition, and a fair hope of gratifying it if only things would go well with him for a year or so. He was still a poor man, but if he succeeded in getting into Parliament he would be able to live an agreeable and honourable mode of life.
But how was he to bear the cost of this for the next year or two? His grandfather would probably not die soon. If he married Alice he would do so with no idea of cheating her out of her money. She already knew how perilous was his enterprise. He knew her to be a woman who would boldly risk all in money