Ye'll not get on so fast, my young friend; I'm not prepared to say that she's not," returned the Scotchman, with good-humored yet serious caution.
"But you would have been prepared yesterday, and have said it.

She can produce the effect of the prettiest girl here, and without challenging comparison.

Nobody thinks of her--everybody experiences her." "You're an enthusiast, Mr.Raymond.

As an habitue of the house, of course, you--" "Oh, my time came with the rest," laughed the young man, with unaffected frankness.

"It's about two years ago now." "I see--you were not a marrying man." "Pardon me--it was because I was." The Scotchman looked at him curiously.
"Maruja is an heiress.