But, with the exception of Colonel Carteret from childhood her trusted friend and confidant, their coming and going was just part of the accustomed routine, a survival from the life at the Indian summer palace of long ago, and made no difference.

Yet, though she was still uncertain whether she did like Tom Verity or not, his coming and going had indisputably made a difference.

It marked, indeed, a new departure in her attitude and thought.

Her world, before his advent, was other than that in which she now dwelt.
For one thing, Tom was much younger than the majority of her father's guests--a man not made but still early in the making, the glamour of promise rather than the stark light of finality upon him.

This affected her; for at eighteen, a career, be it never so distinguished, which has reached its zenith, in other words reached the end of its tether, must needs have a touch of melancholy about it.