At sixteen, Clara found it agreeable to have her good graces sought by the one man in whom she recognised superiority of mind and purpose.

Of all the unbetrothed girls she knew not one but would have felt flattered had Kirkwood thus distinguished her.

Nothing common adhered to his demeanour, to his character; he had the look of one who will hold his own in life; his word had the ring of truth.

Of his generosity she had innumerable proofs, and it contrasted nobly with the selfishness of young men as she knew them; she appreciated it all the more because her own frequent desire to be unselfish was so fruitless.

Of awakening tenderness towards him she knew nothing, but she gave him smiles and words which might mean little or much, just for the pleasure of completing a conquest.