There are ideas language is too gross for, and shape too arbitrary, which come to us and have a definite influence upon us, and yet we cannot fasten on the filmy things and make them visible and distinct to ourselves, much less to others.

Why did he twice throw a look into the glass in the act of passing it?
He stood for a moment with head erect facing it.

His eyes for the nonce seemed little to peruse his outer features; the grey gathered brows, and the wrinkles much action of them had traced over the circles half up his high straight forehead; the iron-grey hair that rose over his forehead and fell away in the fashion of Richard's plume.

His general appearance showed the tints of years; but none of their weight, and nothing of the dignity of his youth, was gone.

It was so far satisfactory, but his eyes were wide, as one who looks at his essential self through the mask we wear.
Perhaps he was speculating as he looked on the sort of aspect he presented to the lady's discriminative regard.