But he attacked her generalisation.

With some vehemence he developed against it a Neo-pagan doctrine of joy--love of the earth and its natural pleasures--courage to take and dare--avoidance of suffering--and war on asceticism.

He poured out a number of undigested thoughts, which showed a great deal of reading, and at least betrayed a personality, whatever value they might have as a philosophy.
She listened with a charming kindness, laughing now and then, putting in a humorous comment or two, and never by another word betraying her own position.

But he was more and more conscious of the double self in her--of the cultivated, social self she was bringing into play for his benefit, and of something behind--a spirit watchful and still--wrapt in a great melancholy--or perhaps a great rebellion?
And by this sense of something concealed or strongly restrained, she began to affect his imagination, and so, presently, to absorb his attention.

Something exquisite in her movements and looks, also in the quality of her voice and the turn of her phrases, drew from his own crude yet sensitive nature an excited response.