She was also suspected by many of abysmal cleverness, and this reputation frightened admiring but uncomplicated young men more than anything else.

Now, when her first youth was past, men more seldom fell in love with her and more frequently liked her; they had had time to find out that if she were cold she was also very kind, and that if abysmally clever, she could adapt her cleverness to pleasant, trivial uses.
Gerald, when he thought at all about her, thought of Helen as indeed cold, clever, and cynical; but these qualities never oppressed him, aware from the first, as he had been, of the others, and he found in them, moreover, veritable shields and bucklers for himself.

It was to some one deeply experienced, yet quite unwarped by personal emotions, that he brought his recitals of distress and uncertainty.

Lady Molly was a perfect little dear, but could he go on with it?
How could he if he would?
She hadn't any money, and her people would be furious; she herself, he felt sure, would be miserable in no time, if they did marry.
They wouldn't even have enough--would they, did Helen think ?--for love in a cottage, and Molly would hate love in a cottage.

They would have to go about living on their relations and friends, as he now did, more or less; but with a wife and babies, how could one?
Did Helen think one could?
Gerald would finish dismally, standing before her with his hands thrust deeply into his pockets and a ruffled brow of inquiry.