Politics were a recognised profession for gentlemen, and offered brilliant prizes; that was enough.

She was pleased, on the whole, that his line should be one of moderation; it was socially advantageous; it made things pleasant with friends of the most various opinions.

That Wilfrid took her into his confidence was to her a great happiness.

In secret she felt it would be the beginning of closer intimacy, of things which women--heaven be praised!--esteem of vastly more importance than intellectual convictions or the interest of party.
But it was long, very long, before Wilfrid could bring himself to pass the line which separates friendship from lovemaking.

Of passion his nature had no lack, but it seemed to be absorbed in memory; he shrank from the thought of using to another those words he had spoken to Emily.
One of the points of intense secret sympathy between Emily and himself was this chastity of temperament.