All the higher faculties of
his mind gave their voice for this woman with increasing emphasis.
His heart undoubtedly would slowly and surely gravitate in the same
direction.
How to win her therefore was gradually becoming the one interesting
and most difficult question he had to solve. Although she was
poor and alone in the world, it was evident that mere wealth and
position would count but little with her. Stanton was handsome,
rich, well-connected, and intelligent; but it seemed clear, as she
recognized the sincerity of his suit, she withdrew from it. Some
coarse, ill-natured people in the house, who at first, with
significant nods, had intimated that "the little school-ma'am" was
bent on bettering her fortunes, were soon nonplussed by her course.
Thus far Van Berg's name had not been associated with hers in any
such manner as Stanton's. His cooler head, or heart more correctly,
had enabled him to act very prudently. He would enjoy a walk or
conversation with her, and there it would end. Neither by lingering
glances nor steps did he show that he could not interest himself in
other people and things. He did not attend the excursions or rides
to which Stanton invited her, and others to please her, because
he knew his friend "doted on his absence.
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