However, now when the opportunity had seemed to be fairly forced upon him, what was he to do?
He felt that he was stirred as he had never been before.

The girl's very soul seemed to meet his when she looked up at him with those serious blue eyes of hers.

He knew that there had never been any like her for him, but he felt as if in another minute, if they did not drop topics which he might as well have discussed with another man, this butterfly of femininity which so delighted him would be beyond his hand.

He wanted to keep her to her rose.
"But the knowledge must not imbitter your life," he said.

"It is not for a little, delicate girl to worry herself over the problems which are too much for men." In spite of himself a tenderness had come into his voice.