She had, in this manner, only to ask,--her hearing received the comforting answer it desired; for she could take that thin far sound as a travelling laughter of incredulity, triumphant derision.
This meant to her--though she scarcely knew it, though the most wilful of women declined to know it--a state of alarm.

She had said of her brother in past days that he would have his time of danger after striking sixty.

The dangerous person was to be young.
But, then, Ormont had high principles with regard to the dues to his family.

His principles could always be trusted.

The dangerous young person would have to be a person of lineage, of a certain station at least: no need for a titled woman, only for warranted good blood.