He did not quite understand, because, if the truth must be told, he had not entirely listened; for although all the spiritual nature that was in him was stimulated by hers, a more outward sympathy asserted itself too; he became moved with admiration and liking for her, and feeling struggled with thought.
"Yes," he said, dreaming of her alone, "if one could always be with people who are good, it would be easier to do something worth doing." Notwithstanding her interest in what she was saying, Sophia began now to see the inclination of his heart for her as one might see a trivial detail of landscape while looking at some absorbing thing, such as a race.

She saw the homage he inwardly proffered more clearly than he saw it himself.

She had seen the same thing before often enough to know it.
"I think," she continued, "if I had been very ignorant, and had seen a good deal of this old man, I would have followed him anywhere, because I would have thought the spiritual force of his life was based on his opinions, which must therefore be considered true.

Isn't that the way we are apt to argue about any phase of Church or Dissent that has vitality ?" But the knowledge she had just come by was making its way to a foremost place in her thought, and her open heart closed gently as a sensitive plant closes its leaves.

As he watched the animation of her face, he saw the habitual reserve come over it again like a shadow.