Egremont, in certain moods, had tried to despise Mr.
Tyrrell, but he never quite succeeded.

Nor indeed was the man contemptible.

Had you told him with frank conviction that you deemed him a poor sort of phenomenon, he would have shaken the ceiling with laughter and have admired you for your plain-speaking.

For there was a large and generous vigour about him, and adverse criticism could only heighten his satisfaction in his own stability.
Something of the cold dignity in which she had taken refuge at Ullswater was still to be remarked in Paula's manner as she received Egremont.

She held her charming head erect, and let her eyelids droop a little, and the few words which she addressed to him were rather absently spoken.