Wilfrid was mysterious; for a week he kept his counsel, and behaved as if nothing unusual had happened.

By that time Mr.Athel's patience had reached its limit; he requested to be told how matters stood.

Wilfrid, determined not to compromise his dignity by speaking first, but glad enough when his father broached the topic, related the story of his visit to Dunfield.

Possibly he laid needless emphasis on Emily's unselfish prudence.
'I fail to see the striking meritoriousness of all that,' Mr.Athel observed, put into a good humour by the result, and consequently allowing himself a little captiousness.

'It merely means that she behaved as any woman who respected herself would under the circumstances.