For some reason, Madeline had been dressing herself with unusual care of late (the result, in fact, of frequent observation of Cecily), and just now, as he entered, it had struck him that she was after all very pretty, that no one could impugn his taste in having formerly chosen her.

His reference to her letter was a concession, made on the moment's impulse.
Her rejecting it so unmistakably looked serious.

Had she even ceased to be jealous?
In the course of the afternoon, one of Mrs.Gluck's servants deposited a parcel in his chamber.

When he found it, he bit his lips.

Indeed, things looked serious at last.