Joan Gildea perfectly realised the distinction.

Biddy had been as much, and more in love with ideas as with persons.

Art, Literature, Higher Thought, Nature, Philanthrophy, Mysticism--she spelled everything with a capital letter--Platonic Passion--the last most dangerous and most recurrent.

As soon as one Emotional Interest burned out another rose from the ashes.

And, while they lasted, she never counted the cost of these emotional interests.
But then she was an O'Hara: and all the O'Haras that had been were recklessly extravagant, squandering alike their feelings and their money.