The world, he assured himself, since Katharine Hilbery was now half an hour behind her time, offers no happiness, no rest from struggle, no certainty.

In a scheme of things utterly bad from the start the only unpardonable folly is that of hope.

Raising his eyes for a moment from the face of his watch, he rested them upon the opposite bank, reflectively and not without a certain wistfulness, as if the sternness of their gaze were still capable of mitigation.

Soon a look of the deepest satisfaction filled them, though, for a moment, he did not move.

He watched a lady who came rapidly, and yet with a trace of hesitation, down the broad grass-walk towards him.