He was this girl's watch-dog and protector.

He aspired to be no more.
"My dear girl, you will never make a social ornament of me as long as you live," he said.
And Mab patted his arm affectionately.
"You're nicer as you are, dear boy," she said.

"You aren't smart, it's true, but I give you the highest mark for real niceness." Seton's eyes met Merefleet's for a second.

There was a touch of uneasiness about him, as if he feared Merefleet might misconstrue something.

And Merefleet considerately struck a topic which he believed to be wholly impersonal.
"By the way," he said, "I had an American paper sent me to-day.