Rowland left them to have it out in a corner, where Roderick's Eve stood over them in the shaded lamplight, in vague white beauty, like the guardian angel of the young idealist.

Singleton was listening to Madame Grandoni, and Rowland took his place on the sofa, near Miss Blanchard.

They had a good deal of familiar, desultory talk.
Every now and then Madame Grandoni looked round at them.

Miss Blanchard at last asked Rowland certain questions about Roderick: who he was, where he came from, whether it was true, as she had heard, that Rowland had discovered him and brought him out at his own expense.

Rowland answered her questions; to the last he gave a vague affirmative.
Finally, after a pause, looking at him, "You 're very generous," Miss Blanchard said.