The fear is that some other prowling mother of an eligible maiden may hit upon the same scent.
Paul was invited to quiet dinners and a little music, to quiet dinners without the music, to a very little music and no dinner whatever.

The number of ladies who had a seat in a box thrown upon their hands at the last minute--a seat next to Angelina in her new pink, or Blanche in her sweet poult de soie--the number of these ladies one can only say was singular, because politeness forbids one to suggest that it was suspicious.

Soft cheeks became rosy at his approach--partly, perhaps, because soft and dainty toes in satin slippers were trodden upon with maternal emphasis at that moment.

Soft eyes looked love into eyes that, alas! only returned preoccupation.

There was always room on an engagement card for Paul's name.