He was slightly revolted by one exclamation: "How ambitious you are!" "Because I cannot sit down for life in a London lodging-house!" he thought, and eyed her distantly as a poor good creature who had already accepted her distinctive residence in another sphere than his.

From such a perception of her humanity, it was natural that his livelier sense of it should diminish.

He felt that he had awakened; and he shook her off.
And now he set to work to subdue Mrs.Lovell.His own subjugation was the first fruit of his effort.

It was quite unacknowledged by him: but when two are at this game, the question arises--"Which can live without the other ?" and horrid pangs smote him to hear her telling musically of the places she was journeying to, the men she would see, and the chances of their meeting again before he was married to the heiress Adeline.
"I have yet to learn that I am engaged to her," he said.

Mrs.Lovell gave him a fixed look,-- "She has a half-brother." He stepped away in a fury.
"Devil!" he muttered, absolutely muttered it, knowing that he fooled and frowned like a stage-hero in stagey heroics.