As I beheld her so regardless of her own interests, which I had jeopardised and was now endeavoring to recover, I redoubled my own boldness in the manner of a lesson to the girl.

The more she came forward, the further I drew back; the more she betrayed the closeness of our intimacy, the more pointedly civil I became, until even her father (if he had not been so engrossed with eating) might have observed the opposition.

In the midst of which, of a sudden, she became wholly changed, and I told myself, with a good deal of relief, that she had took the hint at last.
All day I was at my classes or in quest of my new lodging; and though the hour of our customary walk hung miserably on my hands, I cannot say but I was happy on the whole to find my way cleared, the girl again in proper keeping, the father satisfied or at least acquiescent, and myself free to prosecute my love with honour.

At supper, as at all our meals, it was James More that did the talking.

No doubt but he talked well, if anyone could have believed him.