Rank! As for rank, she told herself that she had the most supreme contempt for it.

She thought that she had seen it near enough already to be sure that it ought to have no special allurements.

What was it doing for her?
Simply restraining her choice among comparatively a few who seemed to her by no means the best endowed of God's creatures.
Of one thing she was very sure, that under no pressure whatsoever would she abandon her engagement with Mr.Tregear.That to her had become a bond almost as holy as matrimony itself could be.

She had told the man that she loved him, and after that there could be no retreat.

He had kissed her, and she had returned his caress.