A little of that was graceful; Society was beginning to view it with favour when confined within the proper bounds; but to carry it into act, and waste one's life in wholly unpractical--nay, in positively harmful--enterprise was a sad thing.
She had reasoned with him, but he showed himself so perverted in his sense of the fitness of things that the task had to be abandoned as hopeless.

And yet the good lady liked him.

She had hoped, and not so long ago, that he might some day desire to stand in a nearer relation to her than that of a friend, but herein again she felt that her wish was growing futile.

Paula indulged in hints with reference to her cousin Annabel, and Mrs.Tyrrell began to fear that the strangely educated girl might be the cause of Walter's extreme aberrations.
Egremont arrived early on the evening of the dinner.

Only one guest had preceded him.