His stand-points and views were artificial, speculative, and material.

Love cannot be reduced to a formula, and then relinquished; nor is it ever safe to use, as pattern for an untried work, the plan whereby something else was accomplished.

Life has need of many methods.
Nearly a week of musing and speculation had passed over the young man's head, when one day, as he was feeling unusually disconsolate, and wishing for unattainable things--Cornelia among others--he became aware, through some subtle channel of sensation, that somebody was standing in the door-way.

He was lying in such a position that he could not see the door, so, after waiting a few moments, he exclaimed, with an invalid's irritability: "Come in--or shut the door!" "I'll come in, if you please," answered an amused voice, which, though soft and low, possessed a penetrating quality which made it easily audible to the deaf man.

He had never heard it before; but either because of this quality, or for some other more occult reason, he conceived a most decided liking for it.
It's owner now became visible.