Therefore, Alan and Felicia having done with her, for the time being, she turned her attention to Christopher; and although he fully comprehended the cause, he none the less enjoyed the effect.

He cherished no illusions concerning Elisabeth, for the which he was perhaps to be pitied; since from love which is founded upon an illusion, there may be an awakening; but for love which sees its objects as they are, and still goes on loving them, there is no conceivable cure either in this world or the world to come.
"I'm not jealous by nature, and I think it is horrid to be dog-in-the-mangerish," she remarked to him one sunny afternoon, when Alan and Felicia had gone off together to Badgering Woods and left her all alone, until Christopher happened to drop in about tea-time.

He had a way of appearing upon the scene when Elisabeth needed him, and of effacing himself when she did not.

He also had a way of smoothing down all the little faults and trials and difficulties which beset her path, and of making for her the rough places plain.

"But I can't help feeling it is rather dull when a man who has been in love with you suddenly begins to be in love with another girl." "I can imagine that the situation has its drawbacks." "Not that there is any reason why he shouldn't, when you haven't been in love with him yourself." "Not the slightest.