She read it rapidly on the staircase, and entered the room with sheet and envelope squeezed together in her hand.
'I'm going to tell you all about this, Milly.' The other nodded and assumed an attitude of sober attention.

In relating her story, Monica moved hither and thither; now playing with objects on the mantlepiece, now standing in the middle of the floor, hands locked nervously behind her.

Throughout, her manner was that of defence; she seemed doubtful of herself, and anxious to represent the case as favourably as possible; not for a moment had her voice the ring of courageous passion, nor the softness of tender feeling.

The narrative hung together but awkwardly, and in truth gave a very indistinct notion of how she had comported herself at the various stages of the irregular courtship.

Her behaviour had been marked by far more delicacy and scruple than she succeeded in representing.