He did not face the question crudely, but like a civilised man and a philosopher; there were reasons why it should interest him just now.

He mused, too, on the question of Mrs.Woolstan's age, regarding which he could arrive at but a vague conclusion; sometimes he had taken her for hardly more than thirty, sometimes he suspected her of all but ten years more.

But, after all, what were these things to him?
The future beckoned, and he persuaded himself that its promise was such as is set only before fortune's favourites.
Before leaving, he promised to come and lunch in a day or two, for the purpose of saying good-bye to Leonard.

Yet what, in truth, did he care about the boy?
Leonard was a rather precocious child, inclined to work his brain more than was good for a body often ailing.

Now and then Dyce had been surprised into a feeling of kindly interest, when Len showed himself peculiarly bright, but on the whole he was tired of his tutorial duties, and not for a moment would regret the parting.
"I'm sorry," he said, in a moved voice.