Now and then she essayed a feeble argument, or met some of his propositions with light banter.

But with a word he obliterated the sophism--and with a glance repressed the badinage.

I think she could never before have so felt the superiority of this man, whose pure love--almost worship--she had put aside as a thing of light importance; and I think the interview helped him in the work upon which he had entered, that of obliterating from his heart all traces of her image.
After this interview, they did not draw together again during the evening.

Delia tried to be gay and indifferent; but he acted himself out just as he was.

I did not observe that he was more social than usual, or that he mingled more than was his wont with the young ladies present.
For most of the time, he kept, as was usual with him, in company and in conversation with his own sex.
I could not but pity Delia Floyd.