She was gentle, submissive, pretty, easily led, refined, not an heiress, but by no means penniless.
To his surprise and indignation she had refused him, evidently not without a certain tepid regret.

He discovered that the mother had other views for her daughter, and that the daughter, though she inclined towards him, was quite incapable or even desirous of opposing her mother.

She was gentleness and pliability itself.

These qualities, so admirable in domestic life, have a tendency of which he had not thought before to make their charming owner, if a hitch occurs, subside into becoming another man's wife.

If only women could be adamant until they reach the altar, and like wax afterwards.
When everything bitter that could be said at the expense of women had been ably expressed, Lord Lossiemouth withdrew.