But she wanted nothing to increase her pity and affection for a man who in consequence, perhaps, of his ordinary surface of worldly and cold properties of temperament never failed to leave an indelible impression on all who had ever seen that temperament broken through by deeper though often by more evil feelings.
"Shall you go to Lady--------'s rout ?" asked Brandon, easily sliding back into common topics.

"Lord Mauleverer requested me to ask you." "That depends on you and my father." "If on me, I answer yes," said Brandon.

"I like hearing Mauleverer, especially among persons who do not understand him.

There is a refined and subtle sarcasm running through the commonplaces of his conversation, which cuts the good fools, like the invisible sword in the fable, that lopped off heads without occasioning the owners any other sensation than a pleasing and self-complacent titillation.

How immeasurably superior he is in manner and address to all we meet here! Does it not strike you ?" "Yes--no--I can't say that it does exactly," rejoined Lucy.
"Is that confusion tender ?" thought Brandon.
"In a word," continued Lucy, "Lord Mauleverer is one whom I think pleasing without fascination, and amusing without brilliancy.