When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn't make out.

When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide whether his old preference for the sea was a boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really had tried very often, and he couldn't make it out.
