He was selfish, capable of picking up a lady's handkerchief, but hardly a wife's.

He was attentive to Hesper; but she scarcely concealed such a repugnance to him as some feel at sight of strange fishes--being at the same time afraid of him, which was not surprising, as she could hardly fail to perceive the fate intended for her.
"Ain't Miss Mortimer a stunner ?" said George Turnbull to Mary, when the tide of customers had finally ebbed from the shop.
"I don't exactly know what you mean, George," answered Mary.
"Oh, of course, I know it ain't fair to ask any girl to admire another," said George.

"But there's no offense to you, Mary.

One young lady can't carry _every_ merit on her back.

She'd be too lovely to live, you know.