Seeking advice (semi-open)
Richard was not a man used to looking for advice. He had been on his own from a young age and had thus grown accustomed to making his own decisions, even to the point of grieving Mr. Jarndyce and his other friends at times. So now that he found himself unsure of his course of action, the idea of asking for advice was one that puzzled him.
The biggest problem, of course, was that Tom was his closest friend, but he couldn't ask Tom, since Tom was the one he needed advising about. He had other friends: Curio, Vasil, Ganymede. But he was unsure how much would be proper to confide, and how helpful they could be without such a confidence. And so, beyond his worry for the problem at hand, Richard felt an additional worry for how best to seek aid in resolving the first problem.
He was paging through some sheet music he'd found in the library, but his attention was clearly elsewhere. And if he saw any of the above mentioned friends, he might not be averse to asking for help, despite the fact he was unaccustomed to doing so.
The biggest problem, of course, was that Tom was his closest friend, but he couldn't ask Tom, since Tom was the one he needed advising about. He had other friends: Curio, Vasil, Ganymede. But he was unsure how much would be proper to confide, and how helpful they could be without such a confidence. And so, beyond his worry for the problem at hand, Richard felt an additional worry for how best to seek aid in resolving the first problem.
He was paging through some sheet music he'd found in the library, but his attention was clearly elsewhere. And if he saw any of the above mentioned friends, he might not be averse to asking for help, despite the fact he was unaccustomed to doing so.