This idea was far from agreeable, although except the first and second time they met he had never said a word that could be described even as flirtation.

He showed admiration for her, and pleasure in her society, but he rarely saw her alone.

The few visits and _tete-a-tetes_ had always begun by conventional commonplace phrases and embarrassment, and had ended in a delightful sympathy, in animated conversation, in a flowing confidence and gaiety, and in long discussions on books, and art, and principally people.

That was all.

In fact he had become, in two or three weeks, in a sense _l'ami de la maison_; they went everywhere with him and met nearly every day, and Bruce appeared to adore him.