But he made Isabel pay for her old-time kindness, of which so much was still left; and as Ralph had no idea of her paying too much, so when his suspicion had become sharp, he had taken himself off.

In doing so he had deprived Isabel of a very interesting occupation: she had been constantly wondering what fine principle was keeping him alive.

She had decided that it was his love of conversation; his conversation had been better than ever.

He had given up walking; he was no longer a humorous stroller.

He sat all day in a chair--almost any chair would serve, and was so dependent on what you would do for him that, had not his talk been highly contemplative, you might have thought he was blind.