Leonard Everard, who had some time ago finished his course at college, was living partly in London and partly on the Continent.

His very absence made him of added interest to his old play-fellow.

The image of his grace and comeliness, of his dominance and masculine force, early impressed on her mind, began to compare favourably with the actualities of her other friends; those of them at least who were within the circle of her personal interest.

'Absence makes the heart grow fonder.' In Stephen's mind had been but a very mustard-seed of fondness.

But new lights were breaking for her; and all of them, in greater or lesser degree, shone in turn on the memory of the pretty self-willed dominant boy, who now grew larger and more masculine in stature under the instance of each successive light.