He concluded that either Cornelia had as yet heard nothing of his bond with Sophie, or that, having heard it, it had not seriously affected her.

Of the two suppositions he was inclined to the first (and correct) one; but he kept scanning her face with an uneasy curiosity.

He took her hand, shook it, and dropped it.
"How do you do ?" said he.
They took their places side by side upon the bench.

Cornelia felt a great weight pressing heavily and more heavily upon her, crushing out life and vivacity.

This was not what she had expected; what did it mean?
was it indifference?
was it aversion?
could it--could it be an uncouth way of showing joy?
Poor Cornelia held her clasped hands in her lap, and knew not what to say.
When the silence had lasted so long that in another moment she must have screamed, she chanced to remember the watch.