'Women never look so well as when one comes in wet and dirty from hunting' (puff).

He then sank silently back in the easy-chair and whiffed and puffed all sorts of fantastic clouds and columns and corkscrews at his leisure.

The cigar being finished, and the water in the foot-bath beginning to get cool, he emptied the remainder of the hot into it, and lighting a fresh cigar, began speculating on how the match was to be accomplished.
The lady was safe, that was clear; he had nothing to do but 'pop.' That he would do in the evening, or in the morning, or any time--a man living in the house with a girl need never be in want of an opportunity.

That preliminary over, and the usual answer 'Ask papa' obtained, then came the question, how was the old boy to be managed ?--for men with marriageable daughters are to all intents and purposes 'old boys,' be their ages what they may.
He became lost in reflection.

He sat with his eyes fixed on the Jawleyford portrait above the mantelpiece, wondering whether he was the amiable, liberal, hearty, disinterested sort of man he appeared to be, indifferent about money, and only wanting unexceptionable young men for his daughters; or if he was a worldly minded man, like some he had met, who, after giving him every possible encouragement, sent him to the right-about like a servant.