They were exceedingly formal at all times, and Nan's heart never warmed at the sight of his handwriting.

It was thick and strong, like himself, and she always regarded it with a little secret sense of aversion.
Nevertheless, as time passed, and he made no mention of return, her dread of the future subsided gradually into the back of her mind.

It had never been her habit to look forward very far, and she was still little more than a child.

Gradually the fact of her marriage began to grow shadowy and unreal, till at length she almost managed to shut it out of her consideration altogether.

She had accepted the man upon impulse, dazzled by the glitter of his wealth.