His ideas and topics were original.

He plunged into the midst of a subject and talked backward and forward at the same time, yet conveyed a marvelously clear idea of his meaning.

Sometimes the last word was the key-note that rendered the whole intelligible.

And he had the bearing of a man all unaccustomed to deal with women--ignorant of the traditional arts of entertainment which society practises upon itself.

He talked to Cornelia as he might have done to a man, and yet his manner showed a subtle difference--a lack of assurance--a treading in a pleasant garden with fear of trespassing--the recognition of the woman.