Mrs.Branston knows that I like and admire her.

She knows as much of almost every man who goes to Rivercombe; for there are plenty who will be disposed to go in against me for the prize by-and-by.
But I think that she likes me better than any one else, and that the chances will be all in my favour.

From first to last there has not been a word spoken between us which old Branston himself might not hear.

As to Adela's marrying again when he is gone, he could scarcely be so fatuous as not to foresee the probability of that." "Is she pretty ?" "Very pretty, in rather a childish way, with blue eyes and fair hair.

She is not my ideal among women, but no man ever marries his ideal.