Evelyn Grant was young and attractive, but there was something tame about her beauty that harmonized with her character.

Thirlwell had not always recognized this; indeed, when they were younger, he had indulged a romantic tenderness for the girl.

This, however, was long since, and the renewal of their friendship in Canada left him cold.

Evelyn was gracious, and he sometimes thought she had not forgotten his youthful admiration, but she did not feel things much, and he suspected that she had acquiesced in Mrs.Allott's rather obvious plot because she was too indolent to object.

For all that, he imagined that if he took a bold line she would not repulse him, and by comparison with his poverty Evelyn was rich.