She herself was incapable of being rude or ungracious, and now that she was fairly confronted with the plausible object of her mistrust, she composed herself to her usual attitude of refined liberality.

Her book was a volume of Victor Cousin.
"You must have an extraordinary power of abstracting your mind," Bernard said to her, observing it.

"Studying philosophy at the Baden Kursaal strikes me as a real intellectual feat." "Don't you think we need a little philosophy here ?" "By all means--what we bring with us.

But I should n't attempt the use of the text-book on the spot." "You should n't speak of yourself as if you were not clever," said Mrs.
Vivian.

"Every one says you are so very clever." Longueville stared; there was an unexpectedness in the speech and an incongruity in Mrs.Vivian's beginning to flatter him.