She did not in the vaguest way suspect how interested he was--his manner was so deceptive.

Aileen imagined that she was the superior woman of the two, the better-looking, the better-dressed, hence the more ensnaring.

She could not guess what a lure this woman's temperament had for Cowperwood, who was so brisk, dynamic, seemingly unromantic, but who, just the same, in his nature concealed (under a very forceful exterior) a deep underlying element of romance and fire.
"This is charming," he said, sinking down beside Rita.

"What a fine evening! And the nice straw hat with the roses, and the nice linen dress.

My, my!" The roses were red; the dress white, with thin, green ribbon run through it here and there.