Of one thing only did she become very swiftly and surely convinced, and that was that in failing her he had saved her from a catastrophe which must have eclipsed her whole life.
Whatever he was, whatever her feelings for him, she recognized that this man was not the mate her girlish dreams had so fondly pictured.

Probably she would have realized this in any case from the moment of their meeting, but circumstances might have compelled her to join her life to his.

And then------ Her look passed from him to Burke, and instinctively she breathed a sigh of thankfulness.

He had saved her from much already, and his rock-like strength stood perpetually between her and evil.

For the first time she was consciously glad that she had entrusted herself to him.
At the end of luncheon she realized with surprise that there had not been an awkward moment.