Though she had no knowledge of science, she instinctively doubted his earnestness even in this work, which certainly was not pursued for effect.

She had put the feeling from her, but it kept returning.

She felt that in nothing did he touch the depths.

Nothing could possess him wholly; nothing inherent could make him self-effacing.
Yet she wondered, too, if she was right, when she saw his fox-terrier watching him, ever watching him with his big brown eyes as he buoyantly worked, and saw him stoop to pat its head.

Or was this, after all, mere animalism, mere superficial vitality, love of health and being?
She shuddered, and shut her eyes, for it came home to her that to him she was just such a being of health, vitality and comeliness, on a little higher plane.