It is better that you found out now, than later on, that you could not possibly be happy with a man who spoke slightingly of the patriarchs and their wives.

Now I'll leave you, with confidence that you will be able to explain matters to Mr.Holland." "What! you won't be here ?" Dismay was in the girl's face as she spoke.

She had clearly looked for the moral support of her father's presence while she would be making her explanation to the man whom she had, a few months before, promised to marry, but whom she had found it necessary to dismiss by letter, owing to her want of sympathy in some of his recent utterances.
"You won't be here ?" "No; I have unfortunately an engagement just at that hour, Phyllis," replied Mr.Ayrton.

"But do you really think there is any need for me to be here?
Personally, I fancy that my presence would only tend to complicate matters.

Your own feeling, your own woman's instinct, will enable you to explain--well, all that needs explanation.