While her heart was empty, her heart was accessible.

But with his nieces in full possession of it, the clouds of doubt overshadowed his prospects.
He knew the sex well enough to keep these purely selfish perplexities to himself.

The waiting policy was especially the policy to pursue with a woman as sensitive as Agnes.

If he once offended her delicacy he was lost.

For the moment he wisely controlled himself and changed the subject.
'My little niece's letter has had an effect,' he said, 'which the child never contemplated in writing it.