His motive was impatience, his thoughts were gloomy, and his courtship was like the pawings of an elephant.

It appeared as if his temper had been more human while he indulged in its free bent, than now that he sullenly endeavoured to put fetters upon its excesses.
Among the ladies of the village-assembly already mentioned, there was none that seemed to engage more of the kindness of Mr.Tyrrel than Miss Hardingham.

She was also one of the few that had not yet gone over to the enemy, either because she really preferred the gentleman who was her oldest acquaintance, or that she conceived from calculation this conduct best adapted to insure her success in a husband.

One day, however, she thought proper, probably only by way of experiment, to show Mr.Tyrrel that she could engage in hostilities, if he should at any time give her sufficient provocation.

She so adjusted her manoeuvres as to be engaged by Mr.Falkland as his partner for the dance of the evening, though without the smallest intention on the part of that gentleman (who was unpardonably deficient in the sciences of anecdote and match-making) of giving offence to his country neighbour.