But economy, which was one of Zuleika's inherited instincts, vaguely appearing to him to be a virtue, interchangeable with chastity and abstemiousness, was certainly to be encouraged in a young girl.

It hardly seems possible that with an eye single to the integrity of the larder she could ever look kindly on the blandishments of his sex, or, indeed, be exposed to them.

He said simply: "Don't cook for me," and resumed his attitude before the fire as the girl left the room.
As he sat there, grim and immovable as one of the battered fire-dogs before him, the wind in the chimney seemed to carry on a deep-throated, dejected, and confidential conversation with him, but really had very little to reveal.

There were no haunting reminiscences of his married life in this room, which he had always occupied in preference to the company or sitting-room beyond.

There were no familiar shadows of the past lurking in its corners to pervade his reverie.