There was little that was lover-like in these hours spent together.

They kissed each other at meeting and parting, but, with this exception, the manner of both was very slightly different from what it had been before their engagement.

They sat apart, and talked of art, literature, religion, seldom of each other.

It had come to this by degrees; at first there had been more warmth, but passion never.

Waymark's self-consciousness often weighed upon his tongue, and made his conversation but a string of commonplaces; Maud was often silent for long intervals.