He had certainly chosen an odd time for a declaration of love, just the moment in which he ought to have been preparing himself for the manipulation of his fractured limb; but, unless he had meant a declaration of love, surely he would not have seized her by the arm.

It was a matter to her of great moment.

Oh, of what vital importance! The English girl living in a town, or even in what we call the country, has no need to think of any special man till some special man thinks of her.

Men are fairly plentiful, and if one man does not come, another will.

And there have probably been men coming and going in some sort since the girl left her school-room and became a young lady.