The delicate features were unnaturally thin and drawn, and there were blue shadows at the temples such as consumptive men often have.

The blue eyes were sunk too deep, and there were hollows above the lids, under the brows.

His figure, too, though tall and well proportioned, had seemed frail to her when she had seen him standing by the piano, and his hands were positively emaciated.
She could not help pitying him.

But it is only pity for sorrow, or for trouble, that is akin to love, not pity for physical weakness; unless, perhaps, a woman is very certainly sure that such weakness is indeed the result of love for herself, wearing the man out night and day--and then the pity she feels is instantly all but love itself and in fact often more than love in deeds.

But Veronica had no such certainty.