He was taken with her in a certain' measure, in a certain way; the question was in what measure, in what way.
It was partly to escape from this question that he hurried down-town, and decided to spend with the Leightons the hour remaining on his hands before it was time to go to the reception for which he was dressed.

It seemed to him important that he should see Alma Leighton.

After all, it was her charm that was most abiding with him; perhaps it was to be final.

He found himself very happy in his present relations with her.
She had dropped that barrier of pretences and ironical surprise.

It seemed to him that they had gone back to the old ground of common artistic interest which he had found so pleasant the summer before.
Apparently she and her mother had both forgiven his neglect of them in the first months of their stay in New York; he was sure that Mrs.
Leighton liked him as well as ever, and, if there was still something a little provisional in Alma's manner at times, it was something that piqued more than it discouraged; it made him curious, not anxious.
He found the young ladies with Fulkerson when he rang.