He admired her ease of manner, and boasted that she was as self-possessed under all circumstances as any grown woman he knew.

It pleased him to have his friends predict that she would be a brilliant social success.

He was doing everything in his power to make her that, and yet--sometimes--a vague fear crossed his mind that she was growing cold and selfish.
Sometimes she seemed far too old and worldly-wise for a child of her age.

He sighed as he looked at her.

They were sitting so near each other that his hand rested on the arm of her chair.