The whole of his face held an astonishing amount of vitality, but the lips were straight and rather hard, so clean-cut as to be almost ascetic.

He looked to her like a man who would suffer to the utmost, but never lose his self-control.

And she thought she read a pride more than ordinary in the cast of his features--a man capable of practically anything save the asking or receiving of favours.
Then he spoke, and curiously all criticism vanished.

"I had better introduce myself," he said.

"I'm afraid I've been unpardonably rude.