Man--in the abstract.

'Man,' not 'a man.' Beyond that, she could not go.

It is not too much to say that she did not ever, even in her most errant thought, apply her reasoning, or even dream of its following out either the duties, the responsibilities, or the consequences of having a husband.

She had a vague longing for younger companionship, and of the kind naturally most interesting to her.

There thought stopped.
One only of her male acquaintances did not at this time appear.