As regarded appearance only he would have preferred even Sophia Longestaffe.

There was indeed a certain brightness of truth which another man might have read in Marie's mingled smiles and tears, but it was thrown away altogether upon him.

They were walking in some shrubbery quite apart from the house, where they were unseen; so, as in duty bound, he put his arm round her waist and kissed her.

'Oh, Felix,' she said, giving her face up to him; 'no one ever did it before.' He did not in the least believe her, nor was the matter one of the slightest importance to him.

'Say that you will be good to me, Felix.