"That is a very serious matter; very annoying." He walked a few steps about the parlor, absorbed in thoughts that seemed of a rather somber character.
"Is Julia aware of your sentiments ?" he said, suddenly.
"Most certainly not; I would not have taken the liberty of informing her of them without first speaking to you.

Will you be kind enough to act as my ambassador to her mother ?" "Why, yes, with pleasure," said Lucan, with a shade of hesitation that did not escape his friend.
"You think that is useless, don't you ?" said the count with a forced smile.
"Useless--why so ?" "In the first place, it is very late." "It is somewhat late, no doubt.

Things have gone very far; but I have never had much confidence in the stability of Julia's ideas of her vocation.

Besides, in these restless imaginations, the sincerest resolutions of to-day become readily the dislikes of the morrow." "But you doubt that--that I should succeed in pleasing her ?" "Why should you not please her?
You are more than good-looking.

You are thirty-two years old; she is sixteen.