He had only been amusing himself with Sellers' schemes.

He swore that as soon as she succeeded with her bill, he would fly with her to any part of the world.
She did not quite believe him, for she saw that he feared her, and she began to suspect that his were the protestations of a coward to gain time.

But she showed him no doubts.
She only watched his movements day by day, and always held herself ready to act promptly.
When Philip came into the presence of this attractive woman, he could not realize that she was the subject of all the scandal he had heard.

She received him with quite the old Hawkeye openness and cordiality, and fell to talking at once of their little acquaintance there; and it seemed impossible that he could ever say to her what he had come determined to say.

Such a man as Philip has only one standard by which to judge women.
Laura recognized that fact no doubt.