He had preceded Christina as a sort of van-guard of defense, and she now slowly advanced from a neighboring room.
"You will be so good as to listen to Mr.Mallet," her mother said, in a terrible voice, "and to reflect carefully upon what he says.

I suppose you will admit that he is disinterested.

In half an hour you shall hear from me again!" And passing her hand through the Cavaliere's arm, she swept rapidly out of the room.
Christina looked hard at Rowland, but offered him no greeting.

She was very pale, and, strangely enough, it at first seemed to Rowland that her beauty was in eclipse.

But he very soon perceived that it had only changed its character, and that if it was a trifle less brilliant than usual, it was admirably touching and noble.