He could attain no further.
From those heights of beautiful emotion where he had disported himself lately there could be no gradual lapse into indifference.

It was a furious break-neck descent to the abominable end--repulsion and infinite dislike, tempered at first by a little remnant of pity.

Every day her presence was becoming more intolerable to him.

But, for the few moments that he perforce spent with her, he was more elaborately attentive than ever.

As his tenderness declined his manner became more scrupulously respectful, (She would have given anything to have heard him say "You little fool," as in the careless days of the old life.) He had no illusions left.