The end of the meeting was that they exchanged a few words.

She asked him what he was reading, and he readily informed her that he was re- perusing letters from his mother in Germany; he did not get them often, he said, and was forced to read the old ones a great many times.

This was all that passed at the present interview, but others of the same kind followed.
Phyllis used to say that his English, though not good, was quite intelligible to her, so that their acquaintance was never hindered by difficulties of speech.

Whenever the subject became too delicate, subtle, or tender, for such words of English as were at his command, the eyes no doubt helped out the tongue, and--though this was later on--the lips helped out the eyes.

In short this acquaintance, unguardedly made, and rash enough on her part, developed and ripened.