There was no betrayal of bad health in her strange pallor: on the contrary, she suggested the idea of rare physical strength.

Her quietly respectful manner was, so to say, emphasised by an underlying self-possession, which looked capable of acting promptly and fearlessly in the critical emergencies of life.

Otherwise, the expression of character in her face was essentially passive.

Here was a steady, resolute young woman, possessed of qualities which failed to show themselves on the surface--whether good qualities or bad qualities experience alone could determine.
Finding it impossible, judging by a first impression, to arrive at any immediate decision favourable or adverse to the stranger, Iris opened the interview with her customary frankness; leaving the consequences to follow as they might.
"Take a seat, Fanny," she said, "and let us try if we can understand each other.

I think you will agree with me that there must be no concealments between us.