He soon discovered that he was not to
have any great encouragement in this direction. She was always very kind
to him, no doubt; and she had certainly proposed that, if he cared to go
with her, he could take the wading portions of the pools; but beyond
that she extended to him very little companionship, except what he made
bold to claim. And the fact is, he was rather piqued by the curious
isolation in which this young lady appeared to hold herself. She seemed
so entirely content with herself, so wholly indifferent to the little
attentions and flatteries of ordinary life, always good-natured when in
the society of any one, she was just as satisfied to be left alone. Now,
Lionel Moore had not been used to this kind of treatment. Women had been
only too ready to smile when he approached; perhaps, indeed, familiar
success had rendered him callous; at all events, he had managed to get
along so far without encountering any violent experience of heart-aching
desire and disappointment and despair. But this young lady, with the
clear, fine, intellectual face, the proud lips, the calm, observant
eyes, puzzled him--almost vexed him. Nina, for example, was a far more
sympathetic companion; either she was enthusiastically happy, talkative,
vivacious, gay as a lark, or she was wilfully sullen and offended, to be
coaxed round again and petted, like a spoiled child, until the natural
sunshine of her humor came through those wayward clouds.
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