By fixing the son beside her, she defeated the father's scheme of coldness, and made it appear a concerted piece of policy.

Even I saw that.

I saw more than I grasped.

Love for my father was to my mind a natural thing, a proof of taste and goodness; women might love him; but the love of a young girl with the morning's mystery about her! and for my progenitor!--a girl (as I reflected in the midst of my interjections) well-built, clear-eyed, animated, clever, with soft white hands and pretty feet; how could it be?
She was sombre as a sunken fire until he at last came round to her, and then her sudden vivacity was surprising.
Affairs were no further advanced when I had to obey the squire's commands and return to Riversley, missing the night of the grand ball with no profound regret, except for my father's sake.

He wrote soon after one of his characteristic letters, to tell me that the ball had, been a success.