A man who could be so wildly reckless and so selfishly unscrupulous was to be feared.

She knew his father was a comparatively poor man, who could not possibly meet such a burden.

If he were thus to his father, what might he be to her if he got a chance.
The thought of what he might have been to her, had he taken the chance she had given him, never occurred to her.

This possibility had already reached the historical stage in her mind.
She made a few pencil notes on the list; and went back to the study.

Her mind was made up.
She was quite businesslike and calm, did not manifest the slightest disapproval, but seemed to simply accept everything as facts.