He had meant to write to Gregory and say, I have seen such a sweet girl, I will find out who she is and, if I steer our family adroitly in the next few years, perhaps you can marry her. He has not written this. In his present precarious situation, it would be about as useful as the letters Gregory used to write to him: Dear father, I hope you are well. I hope your dog is well. And now no more for lack of time.
The character reflects on his intentions to write to Gregory about a young girl he has encountered, someone he believes could be a suitable match for Gregory. However, he realizes that in light of his current troubles, such a letter would hold little value, much like the brief and trivial correspondence he used to receive from Gregory. These letters were always polite but lacked depth, highlighting the disconnect in their relationship.
This realization underscores the precarious nature of his situation, where personal matters seem trivial compared to the challenges he faces. The contrast between his hopeful thoughts and the reality of inaction emphasizes the weight of his responsibilities and the chaos around him, making it difficult to focus on future prospects.
