Mrs.Lovell was perdition and its scorching fires to a man with a taint of cowardice in him.
Whatever he was, Edward's vanity would not permit him to acknowledge himself that.

Still, he did not call on his heart to play inspiriting music.

His ideas turned to subterfuge.

His aim was to keep the good opinion of Mrs.Lovell while he quieted Robert; and he entered straightway upon that very perilous course, the attempt, for the sake of winning her, to bewilder and deceive a woman's instincts..