She belonged to the morning, formed part of the gladness of universal Nature, an unfettered nymph-like being.

To-day her mood was sprightly, bidding farewell to ceremony.

Yet, he felt, she remained perplexing, because more detached than is the feminine habit, poised and complete in herself.
And this detachment, this suppression of the sentimental or social note--he being admittedly a very personable fellow--piqued Tom's male vanity, so that he rallied her with: "But by the way, why did you vanish so early, why didn't you stay with us after dinner last night ?" "I did not want to vanish," she answered.

"Nothing is more delightful than hearing my father talk.

But had I stayed Miss Bilson would have supposed herself free to stay too, and that would have spoiled the evening.