Knowing the indolence of his nature, she was inclined to mistrust the permanence of his feeling.

And so resolutely had she restrained her own feeling for him during the whole length of their acquaintance that she was able still to keep it within bounds.

She knew that the sympathy between them was fundamental in character, but she had often suspected--in her calmer moments she suspected still--that it was of the kind that engenders friendship rather than passion.
But even so, his friendship was essentially precious to her, all the more so for the daily loneliness of spirit that she found herself compelled to endure.

For--with this one exception--she was practically friendless.

She had known that in marrying Jeff Ironside she was relinquishing her own circle entirely.