It was a surprising thing to see him walking down the garden; it was still more surprising to observe the brightness of his eye and the easy confidence of his bearing.

It was evident that he was highly pleased with himself, and she was not satisfied until she had ascertained the reason.

Then she sat silent, reflecting bitterly on the clumsy frankness of the male sex in general and fathers in particular.

A recent conversation with the captain, in which she had put in a casual word or two in Hardy's favour, was suddenly invested with a new significance.
"I shall never be able to repay your father for his kindness," said Hardy, meaningly, as he took a chair near her.
"I expect he was pleased at this marriage," said Miss Nugent, coldly.
"How did it happen ?" Mr.Hardy shifted uneasily in his chair.

"There isn't much to tell," he said, reluctantly; "and you--you might not approve of the means by which the end was gained." "Still, I want to hear about it," said Miss Nugent.
For the second time that evening Hardy told his story.