If he had had more experience he would have merely thought Miss Pierce a girl with nice eyes, figure and manner.

But as a single glass of wine is dangerous to the teetotaller, so this episode had an over-balancing influence on Peter, entirely out of proportion to its true value.

Before the week was over he was seriously in love, and though his natural impassiveness and his entire lack of knowledge how to convey his feelings to Miss Pierce, prevented her from a suspicion of the fact, the more experienced father and mother were not so blind.
"Really, Charles," said Mrs.Pierce, in the privacy of their own room, "I think it ought to be stopped." "Exactly, my dear," replied her other half, with an apparent yielding to her views that amazed and rather frightened Mrs.Pierce, till he continued: "Beyond question _it_ should be stopped, since you say so.
_It_ is neuter, and as neutral things are highly objectionable, stop _it_ by all means." "I mean Mr.Stirling--" began Mrs.Pierce.
"Yes ?" interrupted Mr.Pierce, in an encouraging, inquiring tone.

"Peter is certainly neuter.

I think one might say negative, without gross exaggeration.