There was one hope, there was one way in which Vincent could rehabilitate himself, and that was by showing himself victor in the hardest of all struggles, the personal struggle with her.

That would be hard, because she would make it so, if she perished in the attempt.
The crisis came in the first meeting of their eyes.

If his glance had said: "My poor dear, you're tired.Rest.All will be well," his cause would have been lost.

But his glance said nothing, only studied her coolly, and she began to speak.
"Oh, Papa, Vincent does not consider such minor points as loyalty to me." Her voice and manner left Mr.Lanley in no doubt that if he stayed an instant he would witness a domestic quarrel.

The idea shocked him unspeakably.