It would depend entirely on the persons, of course.' Alma seemed to weary of the speculation, and to throw it aside.

Harvey noticed a shadow on her face again, which this time did not pass quickly.
He was so comfortable in his chair, the ladies seemed so entirely at leisure, such a noiseless calm brooded about them, unbroken by any new arrival, that two hours went by insensibly, and with lingering reluctance the visitor found it time to take his leave.

On reviewing the afternoon, Harvey concluded that it was probably as void of meaning as of event.

Alma, on friendly terms once more with her step-mother, felt for the moment amiably disposed towards everyone, himself included; this idle good humour and insignificant talk was meant, no doubt, for an apology, all he had to expect.

It implied, of course, thorough indifference towards him as an individual.