Their talks were always broken off too soon, just when she began to get a glimpse of characteristics still unknown to her.

On the journey she thought constantly of him; not with any sort of tender emotion, but with much curiosity.

It would have gratified her to know what degree of truth there was in that rumour of his engagement a month ago; some, undoubtedly, for she had noticed a peculiar smile on the faces of persons who alluded to it.

His apparent coldness towards women in general might be natural, or might conceal mysteries.

So difficult a man to know! And so impossible to decide whether he was really worth knowing! Among intimates of her own sex Irene had a reputation for a certain chaste severity becoming at moments all but prudery.