And Lord Tancred was no sensualist, given to instantly appraising the outward charm of women.
When the grouse was being handed, he did get a whole sentence from her; it was in answer to his question whether she liked England.
"How can one say--when one does not know ?" she said.

"I have only been here once before, when I was quite a child.

It seems cold and dark." "We must persuade you to like it better," he answered, trying to look into her eyes which she had instantly averted.

The expression of resentment still smoldered there, he had noticed, during their brief glance.
"Of what consequence whether I like it or no," she said, looking across the table, and this was difficult to answer! It seemed to set him upon his beam-ends.

He could not very well say because he had suddenly begun to admire her very much! At this stage he had not decided what he meant to do.
An unusual excitement was permeating his being; he could not account for how or why.