He was known to be a good man of business, with a leaning toward generosity, and much independence of opinion.

It was not a custom among election candidates to ask Leslie Bell for his vote.

It was pretty well understood that nothing would influence it except his "views," and that none of the ordinary considerations in use with refractory electors would influence his views.

He was a man of large, undemonstrative affections, and it was a matter of private regret with him that there should have been only one child, and that a daughter, to bestow them upon.

His simplicity of nature was utterly beyond the understanding of his wife, who had been building one elaborate theory after another about him ever since they had been married, conducting herself in mysterious accordance, but had arrived accurately only at the fact that he preferred two lumps of sugar in his tea.
Mr.Bell did not allow his attention to be taken from the intricacies of his toilet by his wife's question until she repeated it.
"Aren't you charmed with Elfrida, Leslie?
Hasn't Philadelphia improved her beyond your wildest dreams ?" Mr.Bell reflected.