1 There was an unceremonious directness, a searching, decided steadfastness in his gaze now, which told that intention, and not diffidence, had hitherto kept it averted from the stranger.
2 Jane's temper was not desponding, and she was gradually led to hope, though the diffidence of affection sometimes overcame the hope, that Bingley would return to Netherfield and answer every wish of her heart.
3 Miss Darcy, though with a diffidence which marked her little in the habit of giving invitations, readily obeyed.
4 This naturally introduced a panegyric from Jane on his diffidence, and the little value he put on his own good qualities.
5 His diffidence had prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case, but his reliance on mine made every thing easy.
6 Her diffidence, gratitude, and softness made every expression of indifference seem almost an effort of self-denial; seem, at least, to be giving nearly as much pain to herself as to him.
7 He was not generally popular among the undergraduates, though it always seemed to me that what was set down as pride was really an attempt to cover extreme natural diffidence.
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes By Arthur Conan DoyleContext Highlight In VI. The Adventure of The Musgrave Ritual 8 It is years since the incidents of which I speak took place, and yet it is with diffidence that I allude to them.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes By Arthur Conan DoyleContext Highlight In VII. THE ADVENTURE OF CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON 9 My father was in the meantime overjoyed and in the bustle of preparation only recognized in the melancholy of his niece the diffidence of a bride.
10 As he had shown no diffidence on the subject, I ventured on the liberty of asking him the question, when he stood before me, dusting his hands.
11 Yet he approached them with great diffidence and none of his late mincing and prancing.
12 Provincial diffidence, that slight varnish, the ephemeral flower, that down of the peach, had evaporated to the winds through the little orthodox counsels which the three Musketeers gave their friend.
The Three Musketeers By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In 11 IN WHICH THE PLOT THICKENS 13 Even with Honey, with whom he had an unspoken understanding of marriage when he came into his property next fall, he was diffident and silent.
14 Now, Hugh Elsing, Rene, the Simmons boys, Andy Bonnell and the others found him pleasant, diffident about putting himself forward and embarrassed when they spoke of the obligation they owed him.
15 She felt his kiss, diffident and reverent, on her eyelid.