What, he wondered, would come of it.

Did it make her attractive or the reverse?
Really he wasn't at all sure.

Whereat he grew restive, the claims of inherent masculine superiority, let alone those of public school, university and an honourable profession, asserting themselves.

He began to question whether this young lady did not take up an undue amount of room, thus cramping him and denying his powers of conversation suitable opportunity of display.

Was not it about time gently to reduce her, relegate her to a more modest position?
To achieve which laudable result--he acted, of course, for her good exclusively--he prepared to broach the subject of the unaccountable noises which disturbed his rest last night.