For the time he was content to imitate Madge's tactics, and acted as if he intended to follow the course that she had suggested.

The fact that Arnault was so evidently enjoying his dinner and the Wildmere smiles did not detract from his purpose to prove that he also was not without resources.

Moreover, he felt that he had not treated Madge fairly; he had been truly fond of her, and now was conscious of a growing respect.

As she had said, it was not a little thing that she had attempted and accomplished, and there had been small ground for his discontent.

After dinner, however, he found a chance to ensconce himself by Miss Wildmere on the piazza, and he was fully resolved to lose no such opportunities.
Madge, with the Muir children, passed him on the way to a small lake on which she had promised to give the little people a row.