He found himself wondering why she had afforded him glimpses of her nature so strangely unlike.

What could have occurred within the cottage to thus make so suddenly manifest this new side to her character?
The change in her only served to increase the mystery, and, he confessed, his admiration also.

Her very freedom evidenced to his mind that he was really accepted, had been taken into a new intimacy; no longer to be held and treated as an interloper, a stranger employed for a purpose.

She had deliberately cast aside the conventional, and become natural in his presence--free to speak and act as the spirit moved.

This was a victory, and he chose to interpret it as proof that she already really liked and trusted him.