What do you say to the idea ?" "I think Colonel Vaughan is quite right, uncle; the same thing had already struck me." "That's right; then that settles the matter," said Dr.Owen, who had determined to leave no doubt in his guest's mind of his nephew's importance in his estimation, and of his generous intentions towards him.
Gwenda was sitting alone in the drawing-room when Will entered, and it was a great relief to him that this was the case, for he was not yet so completely accustomed to the small convenances of society as to feel no awkwardness or nervousness upon some occasions.

Free from the restraint of Mrs.Trevor's presence, however, he made no attempt to hide the pleasure which his meeting with Gwenda aroused in him.

She was looking very beautiful in a dress of some soft white material, and as she held out her hand to Will a strange feeling came over him, a feeling that that sweet face would for ever be his lodestar, and that firm little white hand would help him on the path of life.

He scarcely dared to believe that the blush and the drooping eyes were caused by his arrival, but it was not long before he had conquered his diffidence, and remembering his golden prospects had recovered his self-confidence sufficiently to talk naturally and unrestrainedly.
"Never saw such a thing," said the old colonel, later on in the day, to his niece, sitting down beside her for a moment's talk, under cover of a song which Mrs.Trevor was singing.

"Dr.Owen seems wrapped up in his nephew, and the fellow seems to take it all as naturally as a duck takes to the water.