Their talk yesterday had, he flattered himself, terminated in his favour; chiefly, because of his attitude of entire frankness, a compliment to the girl.

That he had been, in the strict sense of the word, open-hearted, it did not occur to him to doubt.

Dyce Lashmar's introspection stopped at a certain point.

He was still a very young man, and circumstance had never yet shown him an austere countenance.
The sun was shining, the air exquisitely fresh.

Lady Ogram had not named the hour of luncheon, but it seemed to Dyce that he could hardly present himself at Rivenoak before one o'clock; so, instead of directing his steps towards the lodge; he struck off into a by-road, where the new-opened leafage of the hawthorn glistened after the morning's showers.