will say in such a case, he
may love, but his love is but a poor affair. Mr. Coleman took him
into the firm as a junior partner, and it was in a measure through his
influence that he entered upon those speculations which ruined him. So
his love had not been a blessing. The ship which North Wind had sunk was
their last venture, and Mr. Evans had gone out with it in the hope
of turning its cargo to the best advantage. He was one of the single
boat-load which managed to reach a desert island, and he had gone
through a great many hardships and sufferings since then. But he was
not past being taught, and his troubles had done him no end of good, for
they had made him doubt himself, and begin to think, so that he had come
to see that he had been foolish as well as wicked. For, if he had had
Miss Coleman with him in the desert island, to build her a hut, and hunt
for her food, and make clothes for her, he would have thought himself
the most fortunate of men; and when he was at home, he would not marry
till he could afford a man-servant. Before he got home again, he had
even begun to understand that no man can make haste to be rich without
going against the will of God, in which case it is the one frightful
thing to be successful. So he had come back a more humble man, and
longing to ask Miss Coleman to forgive him. But he had no idea what
ruin had fallen upon them, for he had never made himself thoroughly
acquainted with the firm's affairs. Few speculative people do know their
own affairs. Hence he never doubted he should find matters much as he
left them, and expected to see them all at The Wilderness as before. But
if he had not fallen in with Diamond, he would not have thought of going
there first.

What was Diamond to do? He had heard his father and mother drop
some remarks concerning Mr. Evans which made him doubtful of him. He
understood that he had not been so considerate as he might have been.
So he went rather slowly till he should make up his mind. It was, of
course, of no use to drive Mr. Evans to Chiswick. But if he should tell
him what had befallen them, and where they lived now, he might put off
going to see them, and he was certain that Miss Coleman, at least, must
want very much to see Mr. Evans. He was pretty sure also that the best
thing in any case was to bring them together, and let them set matters
right for themselves.

The moment he came to this conclusion, he changed his course from
westward to northw