Why worry about outer and unimportant matters?
The long days of pain and illness slipped gradually away.

Miss Winwood sat by his bedside and talked; but not until he was much stronger did she question him as to his antecedents.

The Archdeacon had gone away after a week's visit without being able to hold any converse with Paul; Colonel Winwood was still at Contrexeville, whence he wrote sceptically of the rare bird whom Ursula had discovered; and Ursula was alone in the house, save for a girl friend who had no traffic with the sick-chamber.
She had, therefore, much leisure to devote to Paul.

Her brother's scepticism most naturally strengthened her belief in him.

He was her discovery.