Such a temperament could not fail to be powerfully influenced by Stafford; and when an obvious and creditable explanation lies on the surface, it is an ungracious task to probe deeper in the hope of coming to something less praiseworthy.

Claudia herself certainly undertook no such research.

It was not her habit to analyze her motives; and, if asked the reasons of her conduct, she would no doubt have replied that she sought Stafford because she liked him.

Perhaps, if further pressed, she would have admitted that she found him occasionally a useful refuge against attentions from two other quarters which she found it necessary to avoid; in the one case because she would have liked them, in the other for exactly the opposite reason.
It cannot, however, be supposed that this latter line of diplomacy could be permanently successful.

When you only meet your suitor at dances or operas, it may be no hard task to be always surrounded by a _chevaux-de-frise_ of other admirers.