She had no beauty; she was loved for her mind, her very self.

But must not Everard's conception of her have suffered?
In winning her had he obtained the woman of his desire?
Why was she not more politic?
Would it not have been possible to gratify him, and yet to gain his consent to legal marriage?
By first of all complying she would have seemed to confirm all he believed of her; and then, his ardour at height, how simple to point out to him--without entreaty, without show of much concern--that by neglecting formalities they gained absolutely nothing.

Artifice of that kind was perhaps demanded by the mere circumstances.

Possibly he himself would have welcomed it--after the grateful sense of inspiring such complete devotion.

It is the woman's part to exercise tact; she had proved herself lamentably deficient in that quality.
To-morrow she must study his manner.