There was no doubt in
his mind as to what he would do; the strong nature in him was at last
roused, and he was capable of anything in reason or without it to get what
he wanted.
Some one has said that an Englishman's idea of happiness is to find
something he can kill and to hunt it. That is a metaphor as well as a
fact. It may take an Englishman half a lifetime to find out what he wants,
but when he is once decided he is very likely to get it, or to die in the
attempt. The American is fond of trying everything until he reaches the
age at which Americans normally become dyspeptic, and during his
comparatively brief career he succeeds in experiencing a surprising
variety of sensations. Both Americans and English are tenacious in their
different ways, and it is certain that between them they have gotten more
things that they have wanted than any other existing nation.
What most surprised Ronald was that, having made up his mind to marry
Sybil, he should not have had the opportunity, or perhaps the courage, to
tell her so.
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