But Charlotte's eyes were unspeakably bright and bewitching, and Charlotte's voice was very sweet and tender.

A thrilling consciousness that he was not altogether an indifferent person in Charlotte's consideration had possessed him of late when he found himself in that young lady's society, and a happiness which had hitherto been strange to him gave a new zest to his purposeless life.
He still affected the old indifference of manner, the idle listless tone of a being who has finished with all the joys and sorrows, affections and aspirations, of the world in which he lives.

But the pretence had of late become a very shallow one.

In Charlotte's presence he was eager and interested in spite of himself--childishly eager about the veriest trifles which interested her.

Love had taken up the glass of Time; and the days and hours were reckoned by a new standard; everything in the world had suffered some wondrous change, which Valentine Hawkehurst tried in vain to understand.