When it occurred to her that he might simply be sharpening his mental sword on her steel, but that his heart had at last wandered into a more genial climate than she had ever provided for it, she softened unconsciously; the Scotsman and the American receded into a truer perspective, and the man and the woman approached each other with dangerous nearness.
"What shall we do if Francesca and Mr.Macdonald really fall in love with each other ?" asked Salemina, when Francesca had gone into the hall to try long drives.

(There is a good deal of excitement in this, as Miss Grieve has to cross the passage on her way from the kitchen to the china-closet, and thus often serves as a reluctant 'hazard' or 'bunker.') "Do you mean what should we have done ?" I queried.
"Nonsense, don't be captious! It can't be too late yet.

They have known each other only a little over two months; when would you have had me interfere, pray ?" "It depends upon what you expect to accomplish.

If you wish to stop the marriage, interfere in a fortnight or so; if you wish to prevent an engagement, speak--well, say to-morrow; if, however, you didn't wish them to fall in love with each other, you should have kept one of them away from Lady Baird's dinner." "I could have waited a trifle longer than that," argued Salemina, "for you remember how badly they got on at first." "I remember you thought so," I responded dryly; "but I believe Mr.
Macdonald has been interested in Francesca from the outset, partly because her beauty and vivacity attracted him, partly because he could keep her in order only by putting his whole mind upon her.

On his side, he has succeeded in piquing her into thinking of him continually, though solely, as she fancies, for the purpose of crossing swords with him.
If they ever drop their weapons for an instant, and allow the din of warfare to subside so that they can listen to their own heart-beats, they will discover that they love each other to distraction." "Ye ken mair than's in the catecheesm," remarked Salemina, yawning a little as she put away her darning-ball.