But it was not at all natural that she should fall in love with him.

She was not one of the kind that suffer fools gladly....

No; I had nothing against Willie Connor.

He was merely a common-place, negative young man; patriotic, keen in his work, an excellent soldier, and, as far as I knew, of blameless life; but having met him two or three times in general company, I had found him a dull dog, a terribly dull dog,--the last man in the world for Betty Fairfax.
And then there was Leonard Boyce.

I naturally had him in my head, when I used the words "at last." "You don't seem very enthusiastic," said Betty.
"You've taken me by surprise," said I."I'm not young enough to be familiar with these sudden jerks." "You thought it was Major Boyce." "I did, Betty.