There was a shade of gravity in her manner as she spoke of Sara's engagement, but no hint of annoyance.

She dwelt solely on Tim's disappointment and her own, exhibiting no bitterness, but only a rather wistful regret that another had succeeded where Tim had failed.
"And now," she said, drawing Sara out on to the balcony, where she had been sitting prior to the latter's arrival, "and now, tell me about the lucky man." Sara found it a little difficult to describe the man she loved to the mother of the man she didn't love, but finally, by dint of skilful questioning, Elisabeth elicited the information she sought.
"Forty-three!" she exclaimed, as Sara vouchsafed his age.

"But that's much too old for you, my dear!" Sara shook her head.
"Not a bit," she smiled back.
"It seems so to me," persisted Elisabeth, regarding her with judicial eyes.

"Somehow you convey such an impression of youth.

You always remind me of spring.