Quotation from: Villette

Written by: Charlotte Bronte

"Come with me into my study," at last said Mr. Home to the doctor.
They went. Their intercourse was not long, but I suppose it was
conclusive. The suitor had to undergo an interrogatory and a scrutiny
on many things. Whether Dr. Bretton was at times guileful in look and
language or not, there was a sound foundation below. His answers, I
understood afterwards, evinced both wisdom and integrity. He had
managed his affairs well. He had struggled through entanglements; his
fortunes were in the way of retrieval; he proved himself in a position
to marry.