At the age of thirty-eight this was the point he had reached in a career which once promised brilliant things.

In whatever profession he had steadily pursued, Daniel would have come to the front; but precisely that steady pursuit was the thing impossible to him.

His special weakness, originally amiable, had become an enthralling vice; the soul of goodness in the man was corrupted, and had turned poisonous.
The conversation was still unflagging when Olga and her cousin returned from their day's ramble.

Daniel was presented to them.

Olga at once noticed her mother's strange vivacity, and, sitting silent, closely observed Mr.Otway.Irene, also, studied him with her keen eyes; not, one would have guessed, with very satisfactory results.