She never quite so much dominated a situation as she permitted it to dominate her.
Only the superior ease and graciousness of Cowperwood carried her through at times; but that always did.

When he was near she felt quite the great lady, suited to any realm.

When she was alone her courage, great as it was, often trembled in the balance.

Her dangerous past was never quite out of her mind.
At four Kent McKibben, smug in his afternoon frock, his quick, receptive eyes approving only partially of all this show and effort, took his place in the general reception-room, talking to Taylor Lord, who had completed his last observation and was leaving to return later in the evening.

If these two had been closer friends, quite intimate, they would have discussed the Cowperwoods' social prospects; but as it was, they confined themselves to dull conventionalities.